A woman with dementia died after leaving her care home on her first night there. Elisabeth Nicholls vanished from a Christchurch retirement village and was found dead days later. Police discovered her body at an empty building near her house. The 79-year-old had been admitted for temporary care just hours before she disappeared. Her family called her a beloved wife and mother who always helped others first.
Another similar case happened last month at a different facility. Amy Vercoe walked out of an Auckland retirement home and spent hours wandering the streets. Police found her safely after a long search that left her husband terrified. Miles Vercoe brought his wife home immediately after the incident. He filed a complaint about the care his wife received at the facility.
Both women were placed at regular care homes instead of secure dementia units. Health officials had assessed Amy Vercoe as needing special dementia care but the information never reached the facility. The retirement home said it would have used their locked dementia unit if staff had known about her condition. Miles Vercoe insists he told nurses about his wife's Alzheimer's disease during admission talks. The care company says it always places dementia patients in secure areas when properly referred.
Health officials will investigate what went wrong at the Christchurch facility. The company expressed sadness about Elisabeth Nicholls' death and promised to cooperate fully. A coroner will examine the circumstances surrounding her death.
Another similar case happened last month at a different facility. Amy Vercoe walked out of an Auckland retirement home and spent hours wandering the streets. Police found her safely after a long search that left her husband terrified. Miles Vercoe brought his wife home immediately after the incident. He filed a complaint about the care his wife received at the facility.
Both women were placed at regular care homes instead of secure dementia units. Health officials had assessed Amy Vercoe as needing special dementia care but the information never reached the facility. The retirement home said it would have used their locked dementia unit if staff had known about her condition. Miles Vercoe insists he told nurses about his wife's Alzheimer's disease during admission talks. The care company says it always places dementia patients in secure areas when properly referred.
Health officials will investigate what went wrong at the Christchurch facility. The company expressed sadness about Elisabeth Nicholls' death and promised to cooperate fully. A coroner will examine the circumstances surrounding her death.
