Confidential documents handed to The Royal Gazette reveal the fears of Government officials about the alleged abuse of "Auntie Em".

An official investigation into her plight led to recommendations that her infested and filthy home be cleaned up and surveillance equipment installed to prevent further mistreatment.

The documents obtained by this newspaper date back to November 27 last year, when chief environmental health officer Estlyn Harvey wrote to the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged (NOSPC) to say that the elderly lady was "living in undesirable conditions" and should be rehoused immediately.

In a letter to the NOSPC dated December 8, Ms Harvey, who retired earlier this year, reiterated her concerns and described Auntie Em's home as "unfit for human habitation".

"The conditions under which (Auntie Em) is living are undesirable and detrimental to her health," she wrote. "The premises are filthy, cluttered, infested with cockroaches and evidence of rodents."

On February 13 this year, after Auntie Em had moved out of the house and in with her private nurse, Ms Harvey wrote to her 56-year-old nephew, who has power-of-attorney over her affairs.

She told him some improvements had been made to the 95-year-old's house by her daughter, who is suspected of subjecting her to forms of elder abuse.

The officer wrote: "It would be remiss of me if I did not draw your attention to the fact that (Auntie Em), as a senior, is not capable of addressing the conditions under which she was forced to live.

"This constitutes a form of 'elder abuse' and I strongly suggest that appropriate steps are taken to ensure that (she) is not verbally or physically abused."

Ms Harvey's letter reveals that when the adopted daughter was questioned by Government officials about her mother she displayed a "negative attitude" and gave an abrupt answer of "no" when asked if she had visited her. "The abrupt NO was a warning that must not be ignored," wrote Ms Harvey.

She added: "I strongly suggest that you take steps to put into place a monitoring system; whether it is a technical device or a 24-hour care service for assurance against abuse."

Dennika Williams, NOSPC case manager, wrote to the daughter on January 9 this year to inform her of what social workers and environmental health officers discovered at her house.

The letter listed the following: cluttered premises, roach and rodent infestation; unsanitary water system; inadequate room cleaning; worn, filthy carpet littered with roach droppings; cluttered kitchen with roach droppings; sludge in water tank; black fungus on roof; termite-infested furniture in the victim's bedroom and bed bugs in her bed.

"The above conditions became a detriment to her health," wrote Mrs. Williams, adding that a raft of measures needed to be carried out to make the house suitable for human habitation.

On February 20 this year she wrote to the daughter again to acknowledge that work had been done but further improvements were needed.

"There has been much concern over (Auntie Em) returning to her home to endure both psychological and emotional abuse and also the reoccurrence of the residence returning to an uninhabitable state after renovations," her letter said.

"These concerns constitute a form of elder abuse. During the time (Auntie Em) has been away from her home, no members of her household have visited her. This demonstrates that the family does not have her best interest at heart and are not supportive."

Myra Virgil, Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs, under which the NOSPC falls, said she could not comment on Auntie Em as cases are confidential.

She explained that one of the NOSPC's roles is to intervene in high-risk situations involving seniors, conduct an assessment and make referrals.

"NOSPC coordinates the delivery of service and, as a body that would assist in the recommendations for policy or service, considers service gaps and how to address them.

"The National Office team is quite diligent in seeking all possible resources and services for clients and extending themselves to service family needs when there are gaps in service, particularly in terms of conducting basic family counselling and ensuring that clients are connected and serviced by both public and private service providers."

Ms Virgil said Police were called in cases of abuse or neglect. "The Police would be the best body to respond as to how or why a case is not processed and what sorts of evidence are required for a case to proceed," she added. Police did not respond to a request for comment.