The nephew of alleged elder abuse victim Auntie Em is calling for on-the-spot checks by social workers in cases where the mistreatment of seniors is suspected.

The father-of-three — whose elderly relative was forced to live in filthy conditions and allegedly suffered mental abuse from her adopted daughter — told The Royal Gazette: "I would like to see things put in place where victims or a neighbour can call a hotline and the relevant authority goes there without any warning.

"They just appear and assess the situation."

The nephew alleged his 95-year-old near-blind aunt was effectively placed under house arrest by her family because they listened in on her telephone calls and dissuaded friends and other relatives from visiting her.

"She couldn't speak on the phone freely," he said.

He said her church tried to help but she told them to back off because she feared reprisals from her daughter. Her case was eventually reported to the authorities by the nephew and caregiver Yvonne Dawson but social workers and other officials would announce their visits to the home, where Auntie Em lived with her daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren.

"In their case, they got the chance to clean up and tidy up and give you all smiles," he said.

He hopes his idea will be adopted by Government, which is drafting legislation to protect elders from abuse and has said it will take Auntie Em's case into account.

The nephew also wants to see cameras installed in seniors' rest homes to protect residents from abuse.

"That way, staff know they are being monitored," he said.

The 56-year-old said his aunt, who is on a general ward at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital but longs to return to her home, was aware of the recent headlines about her case.

"She's still trying to register everything," he said.

He said lawyers for his aunt were working on getting the case before the courts to get the daughter and her family evicted. "Hopefully the court will look at the circumstances and then they could be given x amount of time to get out. If not they will send a bailiff in and they will have to get out. But the legal side has to be gone through first."

He said the adopted daughter's 21-year-old son had "a very good rapport" with Auntie Em. "He goes to visit her and to watch them you can feel the love that's coming from him. He is torn."

But the nephew hopes he will be able to get a restraining order to stop the adopted daughter visiting her mother, as he claims the visits leave Auntie Em visibly upset.

"Lawyers are looking at that," he said. "Unfortunately, no matter how bad situations are, you still have to go through the legal process."

The nephew said he was heartened that six fresh cases of suspected elder abuse have been reported since he went public with his aunt's story and that Bermudians are still discussing elder abuse more than a week-and-a-half later.

"I'm pleased that folks are paying attention and that at the very least they are going to take care of their own families. At some point in time, they will be getting older," he said.

"If you don't get it sorted out now, you may know what Auntie Em has been going through."

He added: "God has preserved her for a special, special reason and that special, special reason is to go into her home and to live with dignity, honour and respect and also let other families know you can go through stuff like this but in the end they will be vindicated."

* To report suspected elder abuse call the National Office for Seniors on 292-7802.

* To make a donation to a fund set up to help Auntie Em visit the Bank of Bermuda and quote account number 010-758381-012 and account name The Phenomenal Women Charity Account for Auntie Em.