Police taser 95-year-old woman at Cooma aged care facility

A 95-year-old woman has been hospitalised after being tasered by police inside a NSW aged care home. 

Police officers were called to Yallambee Lodge in Cooma at around 4:15 am on Wednesday after staff reportedly found resident Clare Nowland with a knife.

Ns Nowland was tasered after police failed to disarm her and fell to the ground and struck her head.

The great-grandmother was taken to Cooma District Hospital where she suffers from critical injuries.

A family spokesman has told reporters Ms Nowland lived with dementia and the community was “shocked” at the level of force used by police. 

Snowy Monaro Regional Council, who runs Yallambee Lodge, said staff, residents and family involved were being supported "during this difficult time".

The council confirmed the incident was reported to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

"No further comment is available at the current time due to the ongoing investigation, and out of respect for the privacy of those involved,” a council spokesperson said.

NSW police confirmed that a critical incident investigation was underway on Friday, which will be subject to an independent review.

The nation's peak dementia body said it had been receiving calls from people living with dementia, their families and carers expressing their anger and sadness for Ms Nowland and her family.

“While situations like this are rare, tragically this has highlighted the need for everyone working across healthcare industries to receive compulsory education about dementia to increase their understanding, knowledge and skills in dementia care," a Dementia Australia spokesperson said.

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