Lionel Markey Cox, 92, who has no close family, was admitted to a Cambridge House nursing home in Collingwood last winter after he became too frail to remain in the Fitzroy home he had lived in for most of his life, The Age reports.
He died in August last year and left his $900,000 estate as well as $36,000 cash and all his possessions to Cambridge House aged care manager Abha Anuradha Kumar.
Mr Cox's neighbours were unaware that just weeks before he died he signed a new will making Ms Kumar both the executor and sole beneficiary.
A spokeswoman for St Vincent's Health said no evidence was found that showed Ms Kumar influenced or pressured Mr Cox, or that staff were aware of the contents of his will until after his death.
"The staff member has indicated they have not, and do not want to financially benefit from the resident's will, and intends to donate the proceeds of the estate to charities named by the deceased in a previous unsigned will he had prepared by his solicitor," the spokeswoman said.
"Nevertheless, this case has raised a number of issues of concern for St Vincent's. As a result we are revising our wills policy and increasing education of staff."
Ms Kumar is currently being investigated by the Nursing and Midwifery Board and declined to comment.
A spokesperson for the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia said "a nurse should take all reasonable steps to ensure they do not accept gifts or benefits an impartial observer could view as a means of securing the nurses' influence or favour."
For more information http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/05/26/01/09/dying-elderly-man-changes-will-to-leave-everything-to-nurse/?ocid=nann160526
Share
