An elderly woman with dementia was ‘roughly handled’ and bruised by care home staff before she died, an abuse investigation found.

The confidential report into allegations of abuse against 74-year-old Annie McCarthy, has been seen by the Wimbledon Guardian.

It documents a probe into Eltandia Hall Care Centre in Middle Way, Mitcham, where she was living before her death last month.

Her daughter Evelyn McCarthy, of Beeleigh Road, Morden, said she had lodged a complaint with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) but does not believe anything will be done because her mother died on November 6.

Wimbledon Times:

A CQC spokesman said it did not have legal powers to investigate individual cases or complaints but concerns do influence its work.

Miss McCarthy said: "There’s no-one to help them.

"It’s going on all over.

"My mum was too scared and didn’t want to tell anyone.

"There’s no dignity at all, it’s so sad."

Miss McCarthy said she looked after her mother, who had a stroke, dementia and diabetes and used a zimmer frame to get around, for 10 years before she went to live at the care home in March 2013.

She said she noticed three small bruises on her elbow and her mother had complained of being pushed into the bathroom even though she had not needed to use it.

A report later found bruising to her hip which could have been caused by a rail in the en-suite bathroom.

The confidential report said care centre manager Maria Foster had taken statements from two members of staff who were on duty on Wednesday, July 30, when it is alleged to have happened but no such incident was recorded.

The report said it could have happened the day before when different members of staff were on duty.

Meetings were held in August and October this year with officials including social services, Miss Foster, a care home team leader and Evelyn and Mrs McCarthy’s sister Lizzy Rellis after significant concerns were raised by the family.

A number of recommendations were made at a strategy meeting in August, while Mrs McCarthy was still alive, including attempts to identify the alleged perpetrator of the abuse.

She later identified the same member of staff three times yet her daughter does not believe the member of staff has been punished.

Ms Foster resigned from her position earlier this month, although there is no suggestion her departure is linked to this incident, and the care home is currently being run by a temporary manager.

The report by a social worker in September, said: "On balance of probabilities, it appears Mrs McCarthy was roughly handled in regards to her claims of allegations of safeguarding concerns under the category significant harm.

"It is my opinion physical harm is partly substantiated due to the following reasons:

"She has consistently maintained her statement, the bruising to her arm is still unexplained and she pointed out the same staff on three different occasions."

The CQC spokesman said: "All the information of concern we get is looked at closely and feeds into our regulatory work.

"We don’t investigate individual cases or complaints as we don’t legally have the powers to do this, but they do influence our work and can either lead to inspections or tell us what we need to look at when we inspect.

"We would also share concerns raised with us with other agencies as appropriate - for example the local authority regarding safeguarding concerns."

The Wimbledon Guardian has made several unsuccessful attempts to contact the care home.