'Better training needed' after death of woman

A woman in her late 80s died after her son would not get her medical attention after an accident, according to a safeguarding report.

The report from the Somerset Safeguarding Adults Board (SSAB) says Helen, not her real name, had been a victim of domestic abuse by her son, referred to as John, for several years.

It makes a series of recommendations, including more training focussed on the abuse of older people by their adult children.

It also calls for local councils to be given the power to enter homes if there are safeguarding fears.

A number of professionals, including her GP, were concerned Helen was being controlled by John, who lived with her, over a period of years.

These concerns included him preventing her accessing primary care and other forms of medical help, according to the report.

After the accident preceding her death in 2020, John did not seek any help but attempted to treat her wounds himself, which then became infected.

Helen was taken to hospital after a police welfare check some days after her injury.

The report said John’s control of Helen may have been related to his previous mental health diagnosis, as he was thought to be afraid of medical professionals.

The report outlined some "good practice" by professionals involved with the family and stated: "There was no easy way to engage with Helen or John during the time considered.

"The lead reviewer is not suggesting that there was something missed that could have prevented Helen’s need for urgent medical care being neglected and obstructed by her son."

The report makes various recommendations to the Department of Health and Social Care, including that specific guidance and training should be developed around working with older people experiencing domestic abuse.

It also says training is needed which addresses child-to-parent abuse when children or grandchildren are adults.

Professor Michael Preston-Shoot, Independent Chair of the Somerset Safeguarding Adults Board, which commissioned the report said: “There is much to learn from this Safeguarding Adults Review to inform how we work with older people who are being controlled by a relative.

"It highlights how communicating with someone who we are attempting to safeguard, where there is a high degree of obstruction to agencies, is an extremely challenging, so requires all agencies to be professionally curious and have a person-centred approach, even when we are unable to spend time with the person, together.”

The SSAB Board is made up of all the organisations which have a role in preventing the neglect and abuse of adults, including: Somerset Council, Somerset NHS Integrated Care Board, Avon & Somerset Police and the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.

The Department of Health and Social Care has been contacted for comment.

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