Hung Hom care home denies neglect after viral confrontation video
A Hung Hom care home refutes mistreatment claims after a viral video showed a staff confrontation with a visitor. The facility and the resident's guarantor say the visitor was barred at the family's request due to domestic issues.
A residential care home in Hung Hom has rejected allegations of mistreatment after a viral video showed a heated confrontation between a staff member and a visitor trying to see her 96-year-old grandmother.
Yi Wo Yuen Aged Sanatorium Centre responded after the visitor, surnamed Wong, accused the home of providing substandard meals, keeping the premises excessively cold, and barring her from entry, in an interview with Sing Tao Headline.
The incident came to light after clips circulated on social media showing an employee pointing and raising her voice, demanding identification from the person filming. Wong said the confrontation occurred when she arrived to take her grandmother out for a meal. She claimed her grandmother had been on standard meals for six to seven years but was recently switched to low-salt, pureed food that she described as nutrient-deficient, causing loss of appetite and rapid physical decline. She also claimed low room temperatures posed a hypothermia and fall risk.
The facility issued a statement saying the decision to block Wong's visits followed written instructions from the resident's designated guarantor, Wong's mother, to protect the resident's security and maintain order. Management acknowledged the employee had shown discourtesy and said the staff member received a formal reprimand, adding that internal communication training would be strengthened. The home also expressed regret that the visitor took unauthorised photographs of other residents, made loud disturbances, and summoned police, which it said infringed on resident privacy and well-being.
A separate statement from the guarantor refuted the mistreatment claims as completely unfounded, stating the resident received attentive care and showed marked health improvement compared to when she lived alone. The guarantor explained the pureed meals were medically supervised due to swallowing difficulties, to ensure nutrition and prevent choking. Noting complicated family matters, the guarantor confirmed she had formally authorised the facility to bar her daughter from entering to protect her mother's wellbeing, and apologised for the disturbance caused when her daughter attempted to force entry.