The Sharon Home has been accused of criminal negligence causing death and criminal negligence causing bodily harm in the death of 93-year-old Lilyan Peck on Oct. 19.

Lawyer Harvey Berkal, whose father Rabbi Louis Berkal was a resident of the Simkin Centre run by the Sharon Home and died on Oct. 19, 2009, filed the private prosecution today because the province’s Justice Department has not filed any charges.

“This should send a strong message that our elderly deserve to be treated with the proper care, respect and accountability that should be a basic standard for those with no voice,” Berkal said in a statement.

The first hearing on the charges has been scheduled for next month.

Peck’s death, which may have been hastened by horrendous bedsores that became infected, led to several investigations to find out what went wrong with her care. It also resulted in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority taking remedial action against seven nurses.

Months later, an official with the province’s health department stated in a letter made public that the actions of the nursing home staff caring for Peck was “physical abuse by neglect”.

There are 200 residents living in the centre.

Courtesy The Winnipeg Free Press

December 21, 2011

Dr. Michael Buchinski, Psychiatrist,

Clinical Director Geriatrics, Villa Caritas,
Geriatric Mental Health Unit,
16515 88 Avenue,
Edmonton, AB T5R 0A4

Dear Dr. Buchinski

G.P., detained Unit 2 A, Villa Caritas Geriatric Mental Health Unit – detained since 2009

Please be advised that your staff have been isolating Ms. P, disallowing her to attend recreation activities.

Today the Captain of the Oilers was present in the lower reception area and apparently was signing autographs for those who wished. There was also a person who entertained on the piano and snacks and refreshments were served. Most of the ward staff were absent from the ward attending this exciting and fortuitous occasion, except Ms. P. G.P. was denied to attend. Why? Charge nurse, Levi LPN, was aware.

Please also know that we find it most troubling that you are detaining her on a most unsavoury, unclean Ward with persons who are incontinent, some incontinent of bowel movement. Often the furniture is soiled or moist (urine), some of the male patients spit, and generally have filthy habits.

You strongly stated to the Mental Health Review Panel Chairman, on December 13/11, that Ms. P suffered from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. You also strongly stated that she could not be discharged because of her issues with cleanliness. However, you subject her to this nightmarish world.

Furthermore, since April 1, 2011, Dr. Candace Walker and you, have disallowed her to close her door 24/7. She has not been allowed ANY privacy. Until October, she was not even allowed to close her door when dressing or undressing. Once Ridwan Musa RPN, came to her door way and instructed her to make herself decent. Then, perhaps because we were involved she has been allowed 10 minutes or so when she is dressing or undressing.

She also began to assert herself and refused to get out of bed unless the door was closed while she dressed, even if it meant staying in bed the entire day or longer.

Having her door open at all times, allows cognitively impaired, soiled individuals to come into her room and even onto her bed, which she cannot tolerate. Yet you and your staff have done nothing to ameliorate this situation or protect her.

She is a kind, gentle and very intelligent human being, who has endured with dignity.

Respectfully submitted, we would be grateful to be in receipt of your response in regard to this matter by the 31st of December 2011.

Elder Advocates of Alberta Society

cc.

The Honourable Minister of Health, Mr. Fred Horne

Letter

December 24, 2011

Dr. Michael Buchinski, Psychiatrist,

Clinical Director Geriatrics, Villa Caritas,

Geriatric Mental Health Unit, 16515 88 Avenue,

Edmonton, AB T5R 0A4

Dear Dr. Buchinski

G. P., detained Unit 2 A, Villa Caritas Geriatric Mental Health Unit – detained since 2009

Thursday 8:00AM we had sent the required fax requesting permission regarding our one hour allowed visit for 10:30 AM Friday (yesterday).

Yesterday when you and RN Laurie met us at the entrance of Unit 2 A saying you had left two phone messages stating that we could not visit because you had insufficient staff to provide a guard for our visit, that was not true.

1. No messages had been left. Our phones are kept in good working order.
2. You had instructed us to come back at 1:00 PM. When we came, Gale Tricker, Patient Care Manager and a ward nurse visited G. a number of times in order to wake her up. She was ‘zonked’ out. Had she been given drugs without her knowledge as cited the recent Mental Health Review Panel Hearing? At the Hearing, it was stated that it was documented that she had been drugged a number of times without her knowledge.
3. Friday, she once again missed the 1:00 PM Carol sing and refreshments, a recreation activity which took place in the lower area of Villa Caritas.

Was this entire exercise deliberate to further isolate and abuse her?

Yours truly,

Elder Advocates of Alberta Society

cc.

The Honourable Minister of Health, Mr. Fred Horne

October 30, 2011

Via facsimile – 780 342 6501
Letter to follow

Mr. Scott Baerg, RN, BSc, MBA

Senior Operating Officer, Villa Caritas
16515 88 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5R 0A4

Dear Sir:

COLD ROOMS – Villa Caritas 16515 88 Avenue, Edmonton, AB – Unit # 2 A

On Friday September 30, 2011, a resident of Unit # 2 A, returned to her room # 2117, to find that her heat had been turned down. Nursing staff told her that a maintenance man had been in and turned down the thermostat.

Please advise us as to who directed maintenance staff to turn down the thermostat @ Room #2117 on September 30, 2011?

We have noted in our files that this resident stated on:

October 1, 2011: “Very cold – can’t take a shower, maintenance man turned down heat yesterday. Room cold Hopefully get a quilt – only have a bedspread”.

October 3, 2011: Cold in room – shower room is cold. Cindy RN & Carmen said cold. Can’t take a shower”.

October 20, 2011: Informed Dr. Buchinski – taking a shower, freeze to death. Ill and febrile due to infection, cellulitis of legs.

We find it disturbing and even abusive, that anyone would direct the turning down of thermostats to unacceptable environmental levels at this time of year. Especially on a geriatric ward of vulnerable elderly who are detained behind locked doors.

On October 28, 2011, after we had made a number of complaints, the temperature was turned up to reasonable heat. Said Resident finally felt that she could take a shower which she did.

We would be grateful to be in receipt of your response by the 12th November, 2011. Thank you.

Yours truly,

Elder Advocates of Alberta Society

cc.

Dr. Dick Au MD, Misericordia Hospital

Ms. Michelle Jasonson, Public Guardian Officer

Mr. R. Patrick Dumelie, President & CEO Covenant Health

Foreword

July 10, 2010

The following is an account of a senior’s terrifying ordeal at the hands of society’s advocates/ protectors/ professionals. It was physicians / psychiatrists, nurses, police, security staff, senior management staff who deliberately and with intent suspended the rights of N. S. and arbitrarily detained him.

This matter is being investigated per the Edmonton police Service, Professional Standards Branch.

N. S. is a Canadian citizen.

N. S. as a Canadian citizen, has inherent rights.

This senior citizen, is a law abiding Canadian citizen who has always paid his taxes, was functioning, maintaining his home in impeccable condition. Nevertheless, he was arrested and stripped of all rights.

Mr. S. was arrested twice:

1st ARREST
- Apprehended August 3, 2009- to University of Alberta Hospital Psychiatric Unit @4G (2) Discharged from University of Alberta Hospital Psychiatric Unit, August 31, 2009. Detained 29 days.

2ND ARREST
- Apprehended May 10, 2010 – University of Alberta Hospital Cement Holding Cell D4 – then moved to emergency cubicle.

Discharged @ 7:10 PM, Wednesday, May 12, 2010 from University of Alberta Hospital emergency unit to Alberta Hospital Edmonton by ambulance.

Discharged June 8, 2010 from Alberta hospital, immediately following an after hours call from lawyer to attending psychiatrist, from Alberta Hospital Edmonton Geriatric Psychiatric Unit. He was placed in a yellow cab and sent him home.

We submit that the account of the arrests of Mr. N. S. do not make sense. Why would responsible, professional, police officers arrest an octogenarian over neighbourhood differences and hand him over to the Capital Health, physicians and psychiatrists for demeaning, egregious treatment?

Why would they “make (prior) arrangements” to have him detained prior to investigating the matter? A psychiatrist was on hand to fill out a Form I.

Was that collusion?

1. He was told he was arrested!
2. He was declared to be delusional.
3. He was declared to be a danger to himself and a danger to others.

Police ripped him out of his house twice. His house was left unattended. An empty house is not covered by insurance and could be subject to further vandalism. No social worker has been assigned to assist him.

His bills were not being paid, lawn not cut, mail piled up and could have been stolen. He had no shaving supplies, no extra clothing.  Others had to cut his lawn, pay his utilities, his quarterly taxes.

We’re older people, we did not need the extra work load of looking after his affairs, cutting his lawn, paying his bills when he should have been at home looking after his affairs. Though ripped out of his house, no social worker or other person to concern themselves with such matters.

He showed us evidence of his neighbours vandalism. We believe him. Mr. S. feels that he received inordinate attention from City of Edmonton Police prior to his apprehensions – Correspondence dated February 22, 2010.

Complaint May 12, 2010, made to:

Honourable Ms. Alison Redford, QC, Minister of Justice and Attorney General;

The Honourable Ms. M. Jablonski, Minister of Seniors and Community Supports;

The Honourable Mr. Gene Zwozdesky, Minister of Health and Wellness;

Dr. William Johnston, MD, FRCS (C)

Site Medical Directors, U.of A. Hospital;

Dr. Kathleen M. Collinson, Psychiatrist, Admitting Physician.

Response

May 20, 2010: Site Medical Directors
“He received appropriate care”.

In fact, he did not receive appropriate care, he did not receive any care. He received no therapy. His health issues were disregarded. Rather, he was treated like a maximum security prisoner. We find this to be a most troubling matter for which we are seeking answers.

Letter

HAND DELIVERED

July 19, 2010

Professional Standards Branch,

Edmonton Police Service,
9620 – 103A Ave. Edmonton, Alberta T5H 0-H7

Attention: Acting Detective, Ms. Samantha Parker

Your File – 1A – 2010-0421

Re: Mr. N. S., 80 yrs.of age, apprehended Edmonton Police Service – detained Alberta Hospital Edmonton, Unit 12 -1

We were disappointed and somewhat shocked when you abruptly cancelled our meeting of Friday, the 16th, July, 2010 @ 1:00 PM. It was to be a meeting

with five of your persons, two Edmonton Police Service persons, two Capital Health persons, an RPN and some of us.

You stated that by having Mr. S. present we were ‘blindsiding you”. Mr. S. was present at the first meeting, why would he not be present at the Friday meeting?

After all, he was the one who suffered the horrific ordeal. What would we have discussed had we not discussed the matter of N. S.?

We sincerely regret that the meeting was cancelled. We prepared and tried very hard to make it a meeting where issues could be comfortably discussed.

Respectfully submitted, we would be grateful to be in receipt of a response in regard to this matter by the 2nd, August 2010.

Elder Advocates of Alberta Society

cc.

Mr. N. S.

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

COMPLAINT UNDER THE
ALBERTA HUMAN RIGHTS ACT

We, the Elder Advocates of Alberta Society

COMPLAIN AGAINST

Dr. Asad Brahim MD, Dr. Michael Buchinski Psychiatrist, Dr. Constance Walker Psychiatrist, Dr. Richards MD, Leslie Pisani Social Worker, Patrick Hartnett RN and other staff of Villa Caritas and Alberta Hospital Edmonton Geriatric unit.

Gloria Pickles is being detained behind locked doors at Villa Caritas.

We submit that Gloria Pickles is being mentally, physically abused and demeaned. She is being subjected to cruel and inhuman treatment.

Gloria Pickles is a Canadian Citizen and therefore has inherent rights. Nevertheless, those detaining her have sharply suspended and curtailed her civil and Charter rights.

Dated at Edmonton, AB

April 27, 2011

This Statement is true to the best of my knowledge. I hereby authorize the Alberta Human Rights Commission to investigate the above mentioned complaint and take whatever steps it considers necessary to effect settlement of the said complaint.

Elder Advocates of Alberta Society

Full Complaint Document

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

COMPLAINT UNDER THE
ALBERTA HUMAN RIGHTS ACT

Particulars:

Gloria Pickles was suffering from cellulitis on her legs. Dr. Serena Crum MD, from the Lac la Biche Health Care Centre, sent Gloria Pickles by ambulance to Alberta Hospital Edmonton.

She has advised us that when she asked Dr. Crum to refer her to a specialist, after some time, Dr. Crum told her that she had a bed for her in Edmonton.

The evening before the 7:00 AM departure, Dr. Crum told her that she was being sent to Alberta Hospital and that it was for the further care of her cellulitis.

We submit that Gloria Pickles is being mentally, physically abused and demeaned at Viilla Caritas (previously at Alberta Hospital Edmonton), her Charter Rights are being violated.

Gloria Pickles has been held against her will and denied all rights since November 2009.

Gloria receives no therapy, no exercise, no recreation, no mental stimulation. She takes no therapeutic, psychotropic medication, only a baby aspirin, calcium, Vitamin D and a laxative.

Gloria Pickles is totally independent in regard to daily living activities, requires no care, no nursing care. She is not incompetent

Yesterday, (Easter Monday) this senior was asked to wash and wipe many chairs in the lower area. She, being a compliant, gentle person, did so. She has been also asked to do so in the past.

GlORIA PICKLES HAS BEEN DENIED THE RIGHT:

1. to be recognized, respected and treated as an intelligent human being.When we first visited her on March 27, 2011 @ 3: 00 PM, we found her working on a Journal Suduko (There is little or nothing at Villa Caritas, 2nd floor for patients to pass the time) She is a bright, intelligent and fiercely independent lady who has total insight into her situation. She can give an accurate report of her medical and other history. She recalls phone numbers by memory. She does not appear to be the senior she is. Obviously the Villa Caritas staff do not perceive her as a frail elder or they would not ask her to wash the chairs.
2. to go out of doors for fresh air since last June.
3. to any privacy, decency and dignity.She is disallowed to close her bedroom door, day or night. She is granted no privacy. Occasionally a compassionate staff or patient has drawn the door shut, when she is getting dressed. But then some aggressive staff immediately opens the door.

   She has been subject to male staff leering, sitting on chairs across from her open room early in the morning.

   Apart from the indignity that she is being subjected to, she states that night staff are very noisy and keep her awake which causes her headaches.

   She has inquired of RN’s and others, why she is being subjected to this protocol. They respond, that it is because of what happened downstairs (1A). When she pursues the matter with them attempting to get an answer, they respond, that she knows what happened.

   This incident allegedly happened in 1A. however Dr. Walker states that she is on “close”, which is not disciplinary.

   On March 22/11 @ 7:00 AM, Meseria (sp.) (staff) came to Gloria’s room. Gloria made some objection to her protocol of distributing linen. Gloria claims that Meseria clawed Gloria on the arm, it drew blood. We saw gouge lesions when we came to visit her.

   1. When dressed, Gloria went to the nursing station to show staff what had been done to her.
   2. Later Dr. Walker came by and asked Gloria about the incident. Gloria maintains she never retaliated or touched Meseria. Dr. Walker responded that was not what she had heard. She alleged to Gloria that Meseria’ s arms were bruised.
   3. Two days later when Gloria confronted Meseria about what happened, Meseria insisted her chest was bruised and that she even had to go to the doctor because of the alleged injuries.

   We submit that if in fact that there had been such a cat fight and altercation resulting in injuries

   necessitating medical attention, it would have been heard. If Meseria’s chest had been injured, she would have most likely been down on the floor.

   Gloria was moved from 1A up to 2A on Friday, April 1, 2011, which in itself is a form of discipline.

   After she arrived, she was never allowed to close her door, day or night. This discipline is ordered and enforced by Psychiatrist, Dr. Constance Walker. Tomorrow, it will be four weeks

   (now almost 7 weeks) that this cruel and unusual punishment has been inflicted on this senior.

   It strongly appears, that by means of this humiliation and degradation, staff are trying to break her spirit.

   Gloria has stated to us that the linen wagon is not always kept clean and on occasion dirty diapers are casually placed on the wagon. She also has reported that staff put on disposable gloves and then move from room to room and from patient to patient, sometimes changing a patient’s diapers without changing gloves or washing hands. Then wearing the same gloves, they handle the clean linen. Gloria objects to this.

   She has also stated that she has observed, a patient J.J. who appears to suffer some memory issues, return under panties to the wagon, which were in her possession. Had she tried them on for size? Furthermore, J.J. has a sign on her door, stating “Contact precaution” – and instructs visitors to the room, are to wash with soap and water.

4. to protect and safeguard her domicile from damage.In September, October and part of November of 2010, Gloria reported that she repatedly implored Dr. Buchinski to allow her to return to her Trailer in Hylo, AB. in order to ready the unit for winter. In the latter part of November, she said that she no longer asked to go, because she was aware the temperature had dropped to -15 and water pipes would be frozen, She understood that there would have been irreparable damage to her home. Because she was being detained behind locked doors, she could not help herself.
5. to protect and administer her personal belongings and business.Similarly she was painfully aware that her licenses would lapse. Upon admission to Alberta Hospital, she was totally stripped not only of all rights, but her house keys, vehicle keys, bank books, bank card, driver’s license, AMA card, firearms license, etc. These were taken from her. She knew that these needed to be renewed but was disallowed to renew them. Now, much to her distress all these licenses have lapsed and become invalid.
6. to not be publicly maligned and defamed.Staff speak untruths about her. i.e. On the morning of April 11, 2011, an RN, Charge nurse reported / published, that Gloria could not come to the lawyer’s office because she was violent, that she would attack the taxi driver. However on the same afternoon of April 11, 2011, when she was being driven back to Villa Caritas in a taxi, from the Edmonton Court House together with five Villa Caritas staff, she was told to sit in the front seat beside the driver.
7. to safety of person.She has been physically abused. A number of times, this senior has been submitted to a “takedown”. (See our website elderadvocates.ca/takedown)

   Because she asked for a glass of cranberry juice, she was seized by three husky African American men, “given a needle” (sedation), had her supper tray taken from her, denied supper, strapped down for the entire night. Her new jeans were torn and ripped off of her. Her arms were bruised, black and blue. For some weeks, the bruises were most obvious to doctors and nursing staff. On one occasion she was strapped all night, to a chair in her room without her panties on.

8. to advocacy by publicly paid advocatesShe complained of the assault to the Mental Health Patient Advocate’s Office. They did not come to her aid or defense.
9. to her personal belongings necessary for health and well being.
   She has been denied her glasses, clothing, expensive support hose and other items that were allegedly damaged and taken from her room at the time October 18th, 2010 fire in the dayroom of Building 12 unit # 1, Alberta hospital. She should be wearing the support hose because of the cellulitis issue. She needs the glasses.
   She has been complaining for months to the Patient Advocate Office for the return of these items. To date the items have not been returned.
10. to privacy and respect of personShe has sometimes refused to take a shower:
    • because when you are on ‘close’, nurses (male) come in to check on you whether you are undressed, on the toilet or showering.
    • Unless you roll mats down around the shower base, the water runs all over, into the bedroom. It is not built to drain properly, especially if the water is fully turned on. The design of the shower area is seriously flawed.
11. to privacy of personal and financial mattersGloria has reported that in breach of the Mental Health Act, her mail has been opened, most recently a letter containing a T4 Slip. Then Social Worker Leslie Pisani queried Gloria about her monies. Gloria has a financial planner.
12. to privacy of personal and financial matters.She has reported that someone has phoned her financial planner. What right did they have to do so? Who gave them authority? Why?
13. be represented by counsel at the court.There was an Application for Guardianship and Trusteeship by Office of Public Guardian & Office of Public Trustee, Lincoln Mar, initiated by Dr. Buchinski, before the surrogate court October 2010. It was adjourned sine die. If she was a prisoner at the Remand Center, a lawyer would be provided to her.

    It is most noteworthy, that Ms. Pickles who was not represented by council, was able to convince the presiding Justice that the Application should not proceed, that she was competent.

    She had not been able to retain a lawyer in regard to this Application nor was a lawyer appointed to speak for her at the court.

14. to her legal documents.Gloria was served the Court Application for guardianship and trusteeship, by a sheriff but briefly gave the document to Dafena (nurse) to keep. When she attempted to retrieve the document, she was denied. Staff showed Gloria the document through the glass of the office but refused to give it to her.
15. to ethical, respectful treatment by professional staff.She was twice denied the copy of the Court Application by Dr. Candace Walker, who told her: “You’ve been served and that’s it”.
16. to safe, ethical, compassionate, nursing care by professional staff.In the past, she has refused medication, most notably Anafranil. She states that she is allergic to it and became ill taking this medication.

    Daily, nursing staff continue to offer and push Gloria to take psychotropic, mind altering medications, Anafranil and Zyprexa, but she refuses.

17. to be treated with dignity and respectThough a patient may be on the phone, in the middle of a conversation, the phone is cut off from the Office at around 9:00PM. Because the Office exterior is glass, staff can see if someone is using the phone and who, is using the phone.
18. to have unrestricted visiting by visitors of her choice. Visits to Gloria have been restricted by Dr. Buchinski. He has directed that we must give 24 hour notice of intent to visit, then they will decide if they are able to accommodate us. Visits are to be supervised by staff.

Progress

May 9, 2011 @ 3pm: Intake officer Kathleen Samuel with the Alberta Human Rights Commission directs Elder Advocates of Alberta Society to investigator Erin Raaen-Gossell, stating they have difficulty dealing with the complaint under their jurisdiction.

Response – Human Rights Commission

May 17, 2011

Response – AGTA

Response – PPCA

Villa Caritas Visitation Limits

Letter from concerned visitor

Dr. Michael Buchinski, Clinical Director
Villa Caritas
16515 88 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5R 0A4

Honourable Gene Zwozdesky,
Minister of Health and Wellness,
#208 Legislature Building
10800-97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6

May 12/2011

Dear Sirs:

On May 2nd a friend and I went to visit Gloria Pickles on the 2nd floor of your Villa Caratis facility. The time was approximately 6:20 p.m. A polite staff member let us in and brought us to Ms. Pickles door, #2A. We exchanged greetings then went out to the main area.

Just then a large staff person spotted us. He approached us and told us to step aside and follow him. He led us to the outside door of this area and told us to wait outside without giving a reason why. When I asked if he was going to let us back in, he replied he’d be right back and locked the door. We were stunned! I learned later that his name is Ridwan Musa, RPN. A few minutes later he was on the phone and called a female security guard (Annette) who escorted us to the main entrance downstairs. She looked angry and said in a loud voice “Get out. You have no right to be here. Get out now!”

The lobby was full of people including staff who were eating their supper. We felt intimidated, humiliated and embarrassed.

We wondered what was going on as we had not caused any disturbance. Even criminals are allowed to have visitors. If visitors get this kind of mistreatment, it makes me wonder how the seniors are treated in this facility. I can now only suspect there are questionable actions going on behind locked doors and you wish to keep it out of the public eye.

We strongly object to this kind of abuse. We are living in a free society and should be able to peacefully visit with whom we want. We want answers. We want an explanation for this kind of mistreatment along with an apology. We want to continue to visit Ms. Pickles.

Please reply at your earliest convenience.

Regards,

Mary Pelech
10527-55 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
T6H 0W8

A 93-year-old Edmonton Senior is begging Capital Care not to ship her dying husband across the city…

Courtesy the Edmonton Sun

I was sitting quietly with a dying man, Konstanty (Ken) Stankiewicz on the evening of the 24th of October (He died on the 26th). His 93 year old wife went home to sleep, she was exhausted. I was sitting in a chair beside the dying man, in a dimly lit room. Staff were kind to me and even gave me a heated blanket – though I did not have conversation with them or discuss the care øf the dying man.

At 2:00 AM I became aware of two large uniformed persons standing in the darkened doorway, who asked me to step into the hallway.

The male constable demanded my license. He then read me my rights, cautioned me, told me to call a lawyer if I wished and said anything I said could be used against me. I was frightened (AND VERY TIRED) and said I did not wish to cause a problem but that I had been there that day/afternoon and often before, The male constable, who was the only one who addressed me, said that I should stop saying that because he would have to give me additional tickets for that. He filled out the attached.

He informed me that there was a restraining Order against me signed by a judge in the Misericordia Security office. I have never been served any documents, Restraining Order in this regard or was aware of what he was claiming.
I had been removed from the Misericordia Hospital on February 19, 2004 – note “Case Study” in www.elderadvocates.ca .

They walked me past the nursing station, out of the nursing home, to my car. Once outside, the male constable thanked me a number of times that I had been cooperative.

Ruth Maria Adria

More than 100 people were protesting registered nursing cuts at Youville Home compromising care and safety of patients in St. Albert.

The auxiliary hospital cares for more than 200 seniors with long-term or chronic health problems. Nurses say the quality of care will suffer when Covenant Health replaces most registered nurses with licensed practical nurses, attendants and other health-care providers.

“We want to shed some light on the transformation that has been going on in long-term care services in the province, and this is just another example,” United Nurses of Alberta president Heather Smith said after the protest Friday.

“It’s a cheapening of the long-term care services that we offer to people in this province. … Basically, seniors are getting the short end of the stick.”

Smith said studies show reducing the number of registered nurses will increase the number of trips seniors make to hospital.

She said that until three years ago, Youville was a designated nursing home, which means it was governed by the provincial Nursing Homes Act. Under that act, a patient must receive 1.9 hours of care each day, and roughly one quarter of that care must be done by a registered nurse.

Three years ago, the designation was changed from nursing home to auxiliary hospital. As a result, the home is no longer legally required to provide the same hours of service.

Youville executive director Cecilia Monro said the company’s service agreement with Alberta Health Services sets the same standard of care: 1.9 hours of care each day, one quarter by a registered nurse.

“Our staffing levels meet and exceed the provincial standards and will continue to do so,” she said.

Youville has had a staffing model that was unsustainable, she said, adding that registered nurses were routinely performing tasks that can be done by licensed practical nurses, such as wound care, physical assessments and administering intramuscular needles for pain control.

The move is designed to become financially stable, she said, adding Covenant Health is a not-for-profit agency.
On any given day in Alberta, more than 700 people are living in a hospital while they wait for a long-term care bed. Zwozdesky said the 2,000 new spaces are expected to ease the pressure on hospitals.

Adapted from Edmonton Journal, June 28, 2010

Jim S., who is guardian and is named on his 99 year old mother’s Personal Directive has also been barred. His mother is a resident in a facility in a neighboring city. He lives in central Alberta.

If persons complain, there will be consequences. When persons become too vocal concerning the care of their loved ones, they may be restricted and sometimes barred from the facility where their family member resides. The public meeting will focus on this matter. A number of persons from Edmonton and elsewhere who have been barred or restricted will speak to the issue. Some are very angry. There is no appeal mechanism in place for these people. In one instance the Capital Health Authority informed a young woman that the ‘trespass order’ would be lifted and she would be allowed to visit her family member, however the facility continues to deny her access. They have called the police on two occasions.

This is a widespread problem as noted in the Toronto Star October 31/04 – Nursing Home Bars Family – “Woman can’t see her 92 year old mother . Complaints bring “trespass notice”.

Source: Elder Advocates of Alberta Press Conference Notice, June 16, 2005 – 11:00 AM.