Elder Advocates of Alberta Society » Blog

AGING IN PLACE, Alberta

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:27:42 +0000

Minister of Health, Fred Horne has announced a change in the

government’s approach to senior’s housing and care.

He is quoted as saying, a concept, “aging in place”, was developed

by Premier Alison Redford during the leadership campaign.

He is further quoted as saying: “What we mean by “aging in place” is

really designing a facility that allows us to fund and support the needs

of seniors as they change over time

Those of us, who for years have been monitoring senior care initiatives

have heard all this before.

The concept of aging in place was first widely discussed in 2004.

Then the much publicized initiative of 2008, “CONTINUING CARE STRATEGY -

AGING IN THE RIGHT PLACE”, was presented, allegedly in consultation with Albertans.

We respectfully submit that the proposed change is essentially the

same old meal deal, served on a newer platter.

1/2 a hot dog for supper

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:20:19 +0000

This morning we got a call from small town Alberta concerning
a hospitalized senior who was served a half a hot dog for supper.
We encourage those, who compassionately visit older persons
who are detained in long term care, locked units, active treatmenthospitals or mental hospitals, to bring along a few flowers to brightenup the senior’s world and always carry a camera.

FATALITY INQUIRY – Lucy Lecavalier – January 25, 2012 – Edmonton Provincial Court – Judge J.Henderson presiding

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:17:57 +0000

A patient, who in 2008,was in a transition bed at a long term care

center waiting for palliative care was administered a lethal dose

of medication. She died within the hour.

LPN who was a float nurse, was informed patient required

pain medication. She looked for the assigned medication nurse, was

unable to find anyone, so she went to the medication room to prepare

the medication herself. In error, instead of selecting a 2 mgm. ampoule,

she chose a10 mgm ampoule of the more potent Hydromorphone

Hydrochloride/ Dilaudid from the box containing the 10 mgm. vials.

She broke the vial and withdrew the Dilaudid into a syringe. She was

intending to calculate the amount to be withdrawn when she was

interrupted by an aide who was looking for assistance. The LPN

capped the syringe, leaving the syringe & medication room unattended.

After some time she returned to med room, picked up the syringe &

failed to do further calculations. With fully loaded syringe, she went

straight to patient room & at 4:15 PM, administered the excessively

large fatal dose of potent narcotic.

Returning to the med room, she realized that she had massively

overdosed the patient. She immediately went to Care Manager

(who was not a nurse) to report her error. The Care Manager

called the Administrator.

911 was called. EMS arrived, were in pt. room by 4:35 PM. & told

by Norwood staff they could not attend patient until staff had cleaned

her up. Perhaps pt. bowels had already loosened. EMS over rode staff

& attended to pt, started an IV & oxygen. They found patient

to be unconscious, pulse threadlike, respirations depressed.

When ambulance removed patient from Norwood, arrived at RAH

hospital 4:55 PM, the patient was deceased.

When LPN was asked by the Court how she calculated the amount to be

administered, she responded that she did so in her head because

she had administered the medication the day before. Four years after

the incident, she still failed to understand that she was not dealing

with the 2 mgm. Dilaudid but with the much more potent Dilaudid

contained in the 10 mgm. vial.

- wrong medication

- wrong calculation

Loss of foreign workers visas leaves seniors’ facility in lurch

admin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:16:15 +0000

Many care facilities have sharply cut back staffing levels, a case in point isCovenant Health.
Facilities manage to function until a crisis situation hits such as the Norovirus.
Covenant Health has severely cut back staffing
The Norovirus is not selective and will affect staff as well as patients.Recently during such an outbreak, at a General Hospital 30 patient ward, 9 patients were ill with the virus It was during the supper hour, when a patient fell.
There was one staff person on the floor. When you put undue stress / unreasonable levels of responsibility on hands-on-staff, they break down, they leave.

HEALTH QUALITY COUNCIL OF ALBERTA releases findings of second provincial long term care family experience survey

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:58:53 +0000

We have been informed by the HQCA that the quality of long term care has improved.

We note however that their survey indicates that 38% of respondents gave meals a

failing grade of six or less.

Perhaps one of the most most significant and troubling findings of the survey was

that one-third of those who were unhappy with the care didn’t complain to the facility

because they were afraid the resident would face retribution from staff.

We know, that oftentimes when persons complain about the care that their

loved ones are receiving, they may be threatened that if they don’t like thecare, they can take

momma or poppa somewhere else or they may be totally banned from attending at the

facility and never see their loved one again. No valid appeal exists concerning such a

bannning.

Presently, the performance of individual facilities in the survey is confidential, it is hoped

that results of future surveys will be made public & transparent.

Inquiry into death of 83-year-old

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:50:23 +0000

Body found behind Strathcona PLace, 77 Avenue & 109 Street, Edmonton, AB.

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:51:29 +0000

The body of an unclothed woman was found Saturday morningbehind Strathcona Place senior’s independent housing.
On weekends, there is no manager on site, seniors areleft unattended. Police are not releasing any details concerning
her death.

Our tax dollars: Our health care dollars.

admin — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:01:32 +0000

We have learned that 1,835 seniors are waiting for long term care beds.

It has been publicly stated that across the province, at least 500 seniors, who have

been declared as requiring long term care (LTC), are being detained in active treatment

beds. We believe that estimate to be low because of the many calls that we receive

concerning seniors being detained in hospitals against their will.

One must question why this is being allowed to happen when there are not enough beds

to accommodate ill Albertans.

Hospitalized seniors are made to pay the LTC fee of approximately $1,500.00. Since

the senior pays the $1,500, is the Canada Health payment of (approximately)

$5,000.00 made to the active treatment hospital just as the payment would be paid

if that senior were in actual LTC? After all, they are LTC patients, who are allegedly in care.

This “senior money”, is money, paid on top of the funding that an active treatment hospital

receives for every patient.

Consider that 500 seniors are held in active treatment beds, over $3M a month and close to $40M

a year is paid to government or somebody. If a thousand seniors occupy active treatment

beds, monies 80M or more annually, enrich the coffers of someone.

The hospitalized seniors receive non-care.

ALBERTA HOSPITAL EDMONTON / VILLA CARITAS – VIDEO SURVEILLANCE

admin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:16:34 +0000

In the past we have made serious complaints against staff of the geriatric mental hospital,

Villa Caritas. We have alleged that abuse and even violence is being perpetrated against

very, vulnerable seniors, seniors detained behind locked doors. Our complaints

have been summarily dismissed.

Therefore we are calling on government, the Honourable Minister of Health. Mr. Fred

Horne & the Honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Verlyn Olson QC, to immediately initiate

Cameras (Granny Cams) 24/7, in every resident’s room, all open areas and especially

continual surveillance of “QUIET” rooms.

We also request that all video recordings be carefully saved, identified & stored.

Safety and security should be the right of every Alberta citizen.

Alberta will get 500 new supportive living, long-term-care spaces by 2014

admin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 02:04:15 +0000

We applaud the government for providing more living spaces for elderly andhandicapped. Unfortunately however, of the 500 spaces, only 30 of the spaces
are designated for long term care. The needs of persons who require long term care cannotbe met in supported living or assisted living spaces.For example our long serving, respected Premier now requires such care. Is he there because itis some sort of luxury accommodation? No, he is there because he needs the total care.

We submit that for all Alberta citizens who require that level of care, care should be available.
To date, this need embraces only about .4% of the Alberta population.
Alberta citizens should not have to grovel, for what for them might be loosely termed, a necessity of life.

For decades we have been promised more beds. We submit that it is time, that the powers that be,
finally produced them.