Care home worker found guilty of assaulting elderly dementia resident

A resident care employee at Seashore Grove House in Charlottetown has been discovered responsible in provincial court docket of assaulting an aged feminine resident with dementia.

“I don’t imagine the denial testimony of (Betty) Bunagan, nor after contemplating all the proof am I left with an affordable doubt as to her guilt,” stated retired provincial court docket decide John Douglas, who returned in a part-time capability to preside over the trial of Betty Soriano Bunagan, 55. Douglas delivered the responsible resolution on Dec. 1.

On the Nov. 28 trial in provincial court docket in Charlottetown, Crown legal professional Bridget Morriscey referred to as Bunagan’s co-worker, one other RCW at Seashore Grove House and the complainant, to testify. The RCW advised the court docket that in March 2019 within the afternoon, she was helping Bunagan within the aged feminine dementia resident’s room. She stated Bunagan gave the impression to be impatient, irritated and in a rush.

Slapped face

Within the rest room, the RCW and Bunagan had been required to be on either side of the aged lady to carry out of a wheelchair and onto the bathroom seat so she may very well be became her pyjamas.

However Bunagan grabbed the girl by her proper arm first, and aggressively hauled her out of the wheelchair. As Bunagan tried to take off her T-shirt, the girl resisted. Bunagan slapped the girl within the face roughly 12 instances after which shook her by the shoulders and pushed her again into the bathroom tank, barely dislodging the lid. Bunagan’s hand was a number of inches from the girl’s face throughout the slaps on every cheek, which had been onerous sufficient to sting, stated the RCW. Bunagan then stated “hearken to me”; though nothing was stated or defined concerning the care being given.

The RCW didn’t intervene and “simply froze,” she testified, including that the aged lady regarded terrified and did not seem to know what was happening.

Bunagan left the room to get one other employees member to assist. When she returned, the RCW had already modified the girl into her pyjamas.

Incidents reported

The RCW stated that she reported Bunagan’s assault allegation together with six different alleged incidents of elder abuse by employees in a gathering with a nurse supervisor in April 2019. She additionally raised the seven incidents shortly after at a Q and A board assembly with a danger supervisor current.

She made the complaints verbally however didn’t full or signal incident studies, and to the perfect of her data, no investigations had been executed together with her complaints.

Nobody in administration, previous and current, at Seashore Grove House was referred to as to testify by both the Crown or by defence lawyer Derek Bondt.

Because of making the complaints, the RCW stated she skilled bullying and intimidation at work.

The aged sufferer died in 2021 — a number of years after the assault.

Bunagan beforehand stood trial on an assault cost concerning one other dementia affected person on the care residence in August. Chief Choose Jeff Lantz discovered Bunagan not responsible of the frequent assault cost on Sept. 7. The Crown legal professional’s workplace is presently interesting that call in P.E.I. Supreme Court docket.

At that trial, it was famous that Bunagan has been an RCW at Seashore Grove House since 2005 and had no earlier complaints on her report.

After listening to about these feedback in court docket, the RCW phoned police close to the tip of August and reported the 2019 assault. She made the grievance to police previous to Lantz discovering Bunagan not responsible.

Accused denies the allegations

Douglas stated the RCW’s testimony at trial was credible, dependable, compelling and persuasive, and there was no proof that she had a motive to manufacture the allegation.

Bunagan’s testimony largely concerned repeatedly denying the assault allegation.

“It didn’t occur. I didn’t do this,” she stated. Bunagan stated she did not keep in mind working any shifts with the RCW, but it surely was potential.

Douglas stated Bunagan’s testimony had inconsistencies and was not plausible.

Douglas adjourned the matter to Jan. 20 for sentencing.

Bunagan didn’t have a previous felony report.