CCTV catches Keldgate care home 'abuse' of grandmother
- Published
CCTV footage of care workers abusing 84-year-old Freda Jobson
The family of an 84-year-old great grandmother who has Alzheimer's claims to have secretly recorded footage of her being abused by care workers.
Freda Jobson's family hid a camera in her room, at Keldgate Manor Residential Home, in Beverley, East Yorkshire, after concerns about her care.
The film shows staff swearing in front of her and mocking her.
The privately-run care home said three people had been suspended. Humberside Police said it would be investigating.
In the secretly-filmed CCTV footage, three female care workers can be seen leaning over Mrs Jobson as she is lying in bed, laughing and mimicking her groans.
One of the workers can be heard saying: "Are you a gypsy witch Freda? I bet you are? Was you into black magic? Are you a witch? Are you a witch?".
Daughter Maddy Jobson said she "felt sick to the stomach" when she saw the recording.
"I'm wondering long has she been going through this because she hasn't been able to speak for five years and she's been in there for nearly four years.
"I've had suspicions [about her care] for a long time...They were actually tormenting my mum."
Ms Jobson said other footage showed the carers removing a bandage from her elbow used to cover a bedsore and "sticking it on her head and laughing at her".
"Why are they doing it? Is it spite? Is it jealousy?
"I just want the rest of my mum's days to end in dignity and peace," she said.
In a statement, Humberside Police said it would "be undertaking a joint investigation with East Riding Of Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults, to establish whether there are any incidents of abuse at Keldgate Manor Care Home".
A spokesman for the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it was "aware of the video footage taken by the family of a resident at Keldgate Manor and the significant concerns this has raised".
"We are in close liaison with the local authority safeguarding team, the police and the provider, to ensure these issues are investigated thoroughly and appropriate action is taken as required.
"Our priority will always be to ensure people are safe and their needs are being met and where we identify any risk to people living at the home, we have a range of enforcement powers we can use."
Keldgate Manor Residential Home told the BBC it had suspended three members of staff.
Its solicitors, Hamers, were unavailable for comment.