A senior social worker told a court yesterday that she had never seen a 94-year-old woman living in such conditions as "Auntie Em" and that the widow's home was not fit for human habitation.

Dennika Williams, case manager at the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged (NOSPC), described to Magistrates' Court how a health visitor alerted her to Wilhelmina Liburd's situation.

Ms Williams told how she made an unannounced visit to the family home in Upland Street, Devonshire, where Mrs. Liburd lived with her adopted daughter Rosamund Hayward, son-in-law Patrick Hayward, two grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

She found cans of open food, unwashed dishes, stacks of books and papers, electrical cords running across the floor, mice and their droppings, dirty carpets and household items "all over". In Mrs. Liburd's room, there was termite infestation in the furniture.

Ms Williams was yesterday giving evidence in a civil trial brought by nursing assistant Yvonne Dawson against Mrs. Hayward, whom she claims owes her $25,000 for caregiving services.

The Royal Gazette revealed a year ago how near-blind Auntie Em, as her family know her, was removed from the Upland Street home and taken in by Ms Dawson to her own home in Pleasantville Lane, Sandys, for several months.

Now aged 96, she has never returned to the home she once shared with her late husband and is being looked after at the Continuing Care Unit at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Magistrate Tyrone Chin ruled in April that an oral contract existed between Ms Dawson and Mrs. Hayward regarding the care of Mrs. Liburd. He must now determine whether Mrs. Hayward owes the caregiver money.

Ms Williams, who was called as a defence witness on the first day of the civil trial yesterday, denied a suggestion from Ms Dawson's lawyer Leo Mills under cross-examination that Mrs. Liburd's home was in an "appalling and abominable state".

"I have seen worse," she said, before Mr. Mills asked her if she'd seen a 94-year-old lady living in such conditions before. "Not a 94-year-old lady, in my recollection," she replied. "The house was uninhabitable but I felt there is always room for improvement and to give families a chance."

During examination-in-chief by Ray DeSilva, lawyer for Mrs. Hayward, Ms Williams described Mrs. Liburd as "coherent, cognisant and sharp" and said the senior had not made any allegations to her about abuse from family members.

She said a case conference meeting held at the NOSPC resulted in Ms Dawson offering to take in Auntie Em temporarily while her home was made habitable.

Mr. DeSilva asked: "Do you recall anyone agreeing to pay for any charges put forward by Ms Dawson at that meeting?"

Ms Williams said Mrs. Liburd's nephew Stephen Woodley, who holds her power of attorney, agreed to pay Ms Dawson in the interim and Mrs. Hayward would apply for financial assistance.

Earlier, NOSPC manager Melvin Dickinson appeared as a defence witness, telling the court that there were concerns that Mrs. Liburd "was not getting the care that she required for the quality of life that a senior should be getting".

He said he did not recall Mrs. Hayward agreeing to pay for Ms Dawson's services.

Mr. Chin told the parties several times during the hearing that they could avoid their "dirty laundry" being aired in public if they could reach an agreement but an attempt at negotiation in the morning failed.

The case continues.