THE daughter of a dementia suffer filmed being slapped by a carer at a Braintree home says "I feel like I've let her down" in an emotional interview on a BBC Panorama show aired tonight.
Secret filming at The Old Deanery care home was the result of two employees raising concerns to the authorities as far back as 2012, but footage taken last year showed alleged abuse and neglect as recently as November.
Eight staff were suspended and one sacked in February after a BBC Panorama documentary took footage of staff at the Bocking care facility showed neglect and allegedly abuse of residents.
Whistleblowers Karis and Amy, who worked as care assistants, told authorities that staff levels were inadequate and residents were often left in distress and not taken to the toilet.
"Everybody neglects me, ring and ring and no one comes", said one resident who was in the later stages of her life.
Complaints were made about a number of care workers by the whistleblowers, but it was the carers that raised the alarms that were suspended, allegedly over overtome and working hours being reduced.
The footage showed many residents being roughly handled and even sworn at in retaliation to verbal abuse.
The Panorama programme aired on BBC1 tonight featured Joan Maddison and her daughter, Gill Lee.
Joan was partially paralysed by a stroke in her 50s, but was described as "aggressive" by staff at the Old Deanery and shown being insulted and pulled by the arms.
A now sacked carer was also filmed slapping Joan whilst trying to get her into a hoist.
A consultant nurse speaking on the show compared Joan's treatment to "psychological or domestic abuse".
The Old Deanery was sold by a private owner to investment company, August Equity, in November last year and along with St Mary's Court next door, made more than £1M pre-tax profits last financial year.
New management company were keen to stress the good care of most residents.
CQC chief executive said that despite the regular failings and sub-standard reports the home would get better then fall back into their previous levels of staff and care.
In a statement Anglian Retirement Homes apologised "unreservedly" about the footage shown tonight.
