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Older Women’s Network calls for better police training

In the wake of the incident in which a police officer tasered 95-year-old Clare Nowland in her NSW care home, National President of the Older Women’s Network (OWN) called for an investigation of police treatment of dementia patients generally and especially in aged care.

Published: 25 May 2023
Aged carePreventing elder abuse
  • national
  • 25 May 2023
  • ABC News

Speaking to the ABC, Beverly Baker said "There really does need to be a lot more understanding of the way dementia works."

Ms Baker said she was shocked a taser was used against an elderly and frail woman.

"Words fail me. I think the police need better training on the use of tasers and more emphasis on the history of the person," Ms Baker said. "There really does need to be a lot more understanding of the way dementia works."

"What are the triggers, what are the things that can be used to walk people back — a more gentle, a more generous approach to people having an episode."

At the time of writing the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) is also conducting a critical incident review.

A LECC spokesman said the commission was independently monitoring the investigation under Part 8 of the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission Act 2016 to ensure "public confidence in the investigation".

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