Chilling BBC Exposé Uncovers Gross Mistreatment Of Ageing Clients At Thogoto Home For The Elderly

• A shocking video depicting the mistreatment of elderly men and women at the PCEA Thogoto Care Home for the Aged has evoked strong reactions among Kenyan
• The disturbing exposé, presented by BBC, revealed caregivers who were supposed to provide care to the senior residents, instead engaging in the troubling act of caning an elderly woman
• Another distressing scene captured a staff member taking away donated food intended for the ageing residents of the facility
• According to the residents, being at the facility is a stark reminder that they are waiting to die and be taken to the morgue

Most families who take their elderly parents or relatives to homes for the aged do so hoping to give them the best possible care in their twilight years.

The belief is usually that homes for the senior citizens have trained and compassionate caregivers who can take good care of their loved ones.

However, that is not the case with the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Thogoto Care Home for the Aged.

Senior citizens allegedly mistreated

A chilling documentary by BBC has brought to light the alleged mistreatment meted against the ageing men and women who live at the facility located in Kiambu County.

The exposé, which has sent shockwaves throughout the community, captured the caregivers punishing the same clients they are tasked with offering care and comfort.

In the documentary, two undercover journalists, who had their relatives admitted into the facility, infiltrated the premises by pretending to search for employment.

Armed with spy cameras, the media personalities filmed horrifying scenes of how the elderly are neglected, left to their own devices by their would-be caregivers.

Patients die of hunger

Asked what happens when a patient is unable to feed on their own, one of the residents disclosed that sleeping hungry is inevitable in such cases.

"Do you think she will be the first to die of hunger here? Many have died of hunger here. They deny them lunch, dinner because they don't have time to come and feed them," she said.

A deeper look into the operations of the home revealed that most of the food that is donated to the facility is taken away by staff members.

This was captured on video when the undercover team witnessed food being carted away by one of the staff member's vehicle.

Lined up for death

Another video showed one of the aged women being caned for allegedly leaving the home without permission.

She was punished like a small kid despite he repeated pleas for leniency, with one of the staff members admitting that the often use force to for the residents to follow the rules.

"Sometimes you have to use force. Even carers who start as being polite end up being aggressive towards clients," the staffer revealed.

It was heart-wrenching to hear the senior citizens express how being in the home is akin to being lined up for death.

We don't mistreat residents, Jane Gaturu

Reached for comment, Care home manager Jane Gaturu remained adamant that the facility follows the rule of law and is guided by the Christian principles upon which it was founded.

She poured cold water on the allegations, maintaining that the senior citizens are offered good care and mistreatment is forbidden.

"Allegations they did not take care of residents who needed medical attention were lies and malice," she said, as reported by BBC.

Gaturu reiterated that caregivers give priority and assistance to residents who struggle to eat, and that dismissal awaits any member of staff found carrying away the home's food.