Elderly Care Center Staff Assaulted Dementia Patients in Their 80s... CCTV Released

Police File Charges Against Five Individuals Including Director

An 80-year-old grandmother being collectively assaulted by staff at an elderly care center / Photo by JTBC Broadcast Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] A CCTV footage capturing an 80-year-old dementia patient being collectively assaulted by staff members at a senior care center in Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk, is expected to spark a major controversy.

On the 13th, JTBC reported that it had obtained CCTV footage installed inside a senior day care center in Gimcheon. The footage shows staff members brutally assaulting an elderly patient.

In the video, one staff member is seen grabbing the elderly woman by her hair and dragging her around, pressing her body down with a knee, and covering her face with a mask and blanket while hitting her.

Additionally, when the elderly woman did not obey, scenes of abuse were captured, including tying her hands and feet and throwing her onto the floor.

The elderly patient suffered three fractured ribs and bruises all over her body due to the assault, receiving a medical diagnosis requiring six weeks of treatment. She is currently hospitalized and receiving medical care.

The incident came to light after the victim’s grandchild, identified as A, posted a revealing message on an online community. On the 6th, A claimed on 'Nate Pann' that "my grandmother was collectively assaulted at the day care center."

Photo released by the victim's family / Photo by online community capture

According to A, the victim is classified as dementia level 4 and weighs about 42kg. A said, "On the 29th of last month, I received a call from the center saying my grandmother was causing a disturbance among the staff." He added, "When I visited the center, my grandmother had been taken to the hospital for treatment, and the family apologized to the staff member who claimed to have been slapped."

He later discovered the assault while helping his grandmother remove her coat after returning home.

A said, "Her face and arms were covered with bruises. After CT and X-ray examinations, it was confirmed that three ribs on the right side were fractured. The hospital recommended admission, but considering police summons and investigations, we only reported the incident to the police station." He explained, "When we checked the CCTV at the police station, the footage was completely different from the staff member’s statement about being slapped. The video showed my grandmother being collectively assaulted by three staff members, including the director."

A added, "My grandmother, who is currently hospitalized, is startled even while sleeping, and the family is going through terrible days. I hope that punishments for elder abuse, which still frequently occurs, will be strengthened and that the perpetrators of this case will be severely punished."

Meanwhile, on the 12th, the Gimcheon Police arrested the director of the care center on charges of violating the Elderly Welfare Act, and the facility manager along with four care workers were also booked without detention on the same charges.