Miles Vercoe, whose wife went missing from a rest home while in respite care for dementia last month, expressed shock upon hearing about the death of Christchurch woman Elisabeth Nicholls. Vercoe’s wife Amy Vercoe disappeared from the Edmund Hillary Retirement Village in Auckland on 10 May but was found safe by police after wandering for hours. Nicholls, 79, who had dementia, vanished from Ryman’s Margaret Stoddart Retirement Village in Christchurch on 4 June and was tragically found dead near her home.
Vercoe, reflecting on the similarities between his wife’s situation and Nicholls’ fate, emphasized the potential dangers faced by dementia patients who go missing. He recounted the harrowing experience of his wife’s disappearance and subsequent safe return after wandering out of the rest home.
Vercoe’s complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner shed light on the miscommunication between the rest home and healthcare providers regarding his wife’s level of care needed for dementia. The rest home admitted to not being aware of Amy Vercoe’s dementia assessment and acknowledged the need for better coordination to prevent such incidents in the future.
While Ryman did not address Vercoe’s specific case, they emphasized their commitment to providing appropriate care levels for dementia patients in specialized units. This incident highlights the importance of proper communication and understanding of patients’ needs in ensuring their safety and well-being.
A Ryman spokesperson confirmed that three levels of care are available at Edmund Hillary village, including rest home level care which allows residents freedom to come and go as they please. New respite residents are referred by Health New Zealand and their care level is determined by contract agreements. Ryman did not disclose the number of cases involving dementia patients wandering out of the premises in the past year.
Elisabeth Nicholls, a resident at Margaret Stoddart Retirement Village, went missing on her first night at the village. The staff initiated a search when they realized she was missing and contacted the police when she couldn’t be found. Police and volunteers searched the city for her, and her family expressed relief when she was found. Nicholls’ husband described her as a beloved wife, mother, and friend who always prioritized others.
Health New Zealand Te Waipounamu regional commissioner Chiquita Hansen expressed sympathy for Nicholls’ family and stated that an investigation would be conducted in collaboration with Ryman. The coroner will be involved in the case. RNZ has reached out to Health NZ for information on another case involving Vercoe.
