Elder Advocates of Alberta Society » Blog

LETTER TO THE PREMIER, THE HONURABLE ALISON REDFORD

admin — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:33:28 +0000

Dear Madam Premier:

Re: Ministry of Seniors and Community Supports.

After decades, we have a litany of concerns in regard

to the Senior’s Ministry. They provide no advocacy. They

have a history of harming us. This bureaucracy employs

somewhere in the neighborhood of 1800 employees.

There has been failure by their Office to provide, viable,

enforceable protective legislation.

At the 2004 deadly scalding of Jenny Nelson, a government

representative recommended that no police be involved in the investigation.

In 2005, a 14 page “Formal complaint filed by Flora L’Heureux”

Hand Delivered to the Minister of Seniors, a complaint mainly

about the Public Guardian was disregarded by the Minister and

given to the Public Guardian’s Office for investigation.

The 2010 abduction of Myrtle Hofer, by the Calgary Office of

the Public Guardian. This Canadian citizen was driven to

Raymond AB. Good Samaritan Centre, stripped of her cell

phone, detained & isolated in a rear service room.

The 2012 eviction, without cause, of a senior from poorly

maintained seniors housing in Olds, Alberta.

We reported the Public Guardian’s Office for disseminating

misinformation (untruths) in seven languages, to seniors across

the province, concerning the Personal Directives Act. That same

Office, under the active direction of the Minister of Seniors, widely

promoted the Adult Guardianship & trusteeship Act, which is

legislated abuse used to control seniors and strip them of their wealth.

Silence meets the reporting of horrific accounts of deadly neglect &

mistreatment, understaffing, warehousing in elder care facilities.

Seniors are being detained at an alarming rate in active treatment

hospitals. 100’s & 100’s of seniors are languishing in active treatment

beds. Nevertheless, their monthly room & board payments provide

millions of dollars of economic benefit to the hospital system.

Seniors, applying for their driving licenses are subjected to the

Simard MD test which when failed causes them to be immediately

stripped of their driving license. (Simard MD is an unfair and unlawful

test which even a Government Minister failed).

Perhaps it is time to save our overburdened tax dollars and scrap this massive

bureaucracy which places seniors in harms way rather than providing protection and advocacy.

Government expropriates rights, freedom, assets

admin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:23:19 +0000

60-year-old Jean Wilder – held by health authorities in care facility

A 60-year-old wife and mother of two in B.C., Canada is being held

against her and her family’s will. She was transferred to a

residential care facility in February 2012 to recuperate from

surgical complications because the health authority said there

were no other places or services available. Jean Yukiko Wilder

has been denied access to her family and to a lawyer, and has

had her real estate assets placed under government control.

Incredibly, all of this is being done without due process, without

formal notification to Jean Wilder or her family and, above all,

with no explanation or justification. Her family, husband Curtis

Wilder, daughter Trina Wilder and her partner Marc Normand, and

son Tim Wilder, are reeling from their bewildering and frightening

experience, and have tried everything they can to correct the situation.

To date authorities have refused information and imposed severe

restrictions on Jean Wilder’s rights and freedom. April 26, 2012

Banning nursing home visitors – meeting Friday May 4th, 2012 @ 1:00 PM

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:35:19 +0000

Meeting for persons who have been banned from

visiting family & friends in long term care.

{Google – “Care home row man banned from visiting wife“}

Upcoming Hearing -Court of Appeal -Thursday,May 3, 2012 @ 10:00AM – Edmonton Court House

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 03:14:04 +0000

March 4, 2010, Lillian Baker went to her bank where she

kept her savings. (She usually banked at another bank)

A clerk told her that they could not give her any of her hard

earned money because she was under the trusteeship of

her daughter. Karen. She was in total shock.

Court had appointed Daughter, Karen as her trustee.

Lillian had never mismanaged her money, Karen’s lawyer

had mislead the court & the court granted the Trusteeship.

Lillian had not been served with the court Application &

therefore had not retained counsel to object to the Application.

She was nnot aware of trusteeship until 2 years after the Order.

That day the bank would not give Lillian any further information

about her account and even ordered her to leave the bank.

For some reason, the clerk gave her a printout detailing some

months of activity of her account A review of the printout

revealed that daughter had spent thousands & thousands of

dollars, holidays, cigarettes and booze, dinners, all at Lillian’s

expense.

Lillian immediately appealed to Office of Public Trustee

and the Investigations Officer of the AGTA, Charlotte LaRose.

After about 9 months of stalling and disregarding Lillian, they

(Public Trustee & LaARose) wrote / stated that there had been

no wrong doing - that her complaint was “unfounded”,

Lillian appealed to the Edmonton Police Service, but Public

Trustee instructed Police not to investigate. Police also could

not investigate complaint because the AGTA legislation only

allows the court & the Office of the Public Trustee access to

the bank account.

Lillian phoned lawyer after lawyer looking for help.

She never gave up, month after month, year after

year, seeking help.

Police have now opened a file and are in the process of laying

charges.

Daughter put her name on title of house.

Daughter paid a deposit & several months rent (with mother’s

money) on a senior’s home room & with the help of a psychiatrist

& a physician, they almost succeeded to have Lillian pushed into

a waiting car that would have taken her to the home.

There are many contributing abusers in this bizarre story.

Lillian had been good to her daughter. Lillian signed for bank loans

for her, approximately $20,000 (never repaid.)

When daughter was in difficulty, her mother took her home &

gave her money.

Daughter committed credit card bankruptcy twice.

It is a heartbreaking story.

Her lawyer has informed us that he has proof of theft, fraud and perjury.

SILVERA FOR SENIORS housing; – Metropolitan Calgary Foundation-onerous requirement for tenancy

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:12:45 +0000

Silvera Housing for Seniors provides housing to elderlyseniors, some who are almost centenarians. We havebeen informed that a requirement for tenancy is, that inspring, seniors must take down all pictures off the wall,pack up their belongings & together with their furniture,move all out into the hallway in order to facilitate cleaningof the unit.

One year, following this protocol, a senior suffered astroke and has since died.
An appeal has been made to CEO, Arlene Adamsonto reconsider & rescind this tenancy requirement.

Our understanding is, that older persons move, oftenmost reluctantly, out of homes / apartments to seniorshousing, because they can no longer cope withheavy, household activities.

Mountain View Housing evicting senior Albertan

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:57:08 +0000

80 year old has been issued an eviction order. Manager

has informed senior that she does not have to give “cause”

for the discharge order. An appeal to intervene has been

made to senior’s Minister, George VanderBurg.

Resident was subjected to a capacity assessment by Alberta

Health Services Geriatric Mental Health apparently due to a

Directive by CAO. Seniors are being assessed ad nauseam

& are being used to control senior’s & their estates.

What was the intent of the assessment?

Maintenance man, an employee of Mountain View Housing

acted extremely rude and bullying to resident.

This was overheard by a Service Provider who expressed

shock and offered her his business card. We have a copy.

Simard MD – Primary Care Nurse targets senior

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:10:23 +0000

A family member writes from rural Alberta:

“My Dad recently failed the Simard test administered by

the PCN nurse in our local doctor’s office. I’m wondering

if there is any further information available in respect to

any further communication with the government, besides

what you have listed on your website. Any other suggestions

you can provide us would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.”

A number of community leaders & educators who

have taken the test have failed the Simard MD,

including a professional who is preparing for his PhD

& a an MLA who was a Minister of Government.

Please google “Beware of the Simard MD“.

Driver Fitness / Alberta Transportation disseminates misinformation (untruths) – Bullying older Albertans

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:48:12 +0000

L.T. wrote us concerning her father:

“My father received a letter from Alberta transportation stating that on Oct 21 he would have

his licence suspended if he did not have a DriveAble assessment and a geriatric specialist

assessment done to ensure he can drive.I was told by Gloria McLennan at Alberta Transportation,

that my father was not entitled to see what was in his file. I think this violates his rights”.

DriveAble is a private for profit agency not affiliated with government.

There are no members in the Legislature

admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:41:28 +0000

“An Alberta provincial election has been called and

with the dissolution of the 27th Legislature there

are no Members of the Legislative Assembly until

the results of the general election become official.

Following the election, biographical information of

returning and newly-elected Members will be posted

as it becomes available. During the election period,

constituency offices will remain open to serve the public.”

The above information statement is noted on every MLA’s

Biography including the Premier.

HEARING: Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta, Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 10:00 am

admin — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:28:09 +0000

APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION FOR CLASS PROCEEDING

Ms. Jodi Pifko /Buelow and Ms. Kim Bordignon, the daughters of Mrs. Carol Pifko, have

commenced legal action against the physicians, nurses, LPN’s, pharmacists, who

recommended, prescribed or administered Zyprexa for their mother.

Ms. Buelow & Ms. Bordignon are the Representative Plaintiffs for the estate of Carol Pifco,

deceased, in an application to have the action certified as a class action proceeding.

Defendants are Dr. John T. Morrisey, Dr. Douglas Faulder, Dr. Asad Brahim,

Dr. Leo. Malowany, Dr. Rith Chea; Alberta Health Services & the Capital Care Group.

The action is brought on behalf of elderly patients with dementia who have been

given Zyprexa (Olanzapine) or Seroquel (Quetiapine).

In April of 2009, Mrs. Pifko was a patient in the Norwood Long Term Care

facility. She was elderly (a few months shy of her 62nd birthday) and

had dementia. On April 24, 2009, she was prescribed Zyprexa without the

knowledge or consent of herself or her family. The Alberta Hospital physician their

who recommended Zyprexa never saw Mrs. Pifko and had not reviewed her

medical chart. A few days later, Mrs. Pifko died as a result of having

been given Zyprexa.

As a matter of fact, in error, Mrs. Pifco was administered double doses of Zyprexa,

as a result of the negligence of pharmacists and/or other servants, agents or employees

of the Defendants Capital Care or Alberta Health Services, acting within the course and

scope of their employment,

In 2005, Health Canada issued a Black Box warning that Seroquel & Zyprexa,both antipsychotic drugs,

are not approved for treating elderly patients withdementia.

The mortality rate for elderly patients with dementia was 60%higher when using these drugs as

compared to placebo.

The manufacturers, Eli Lilly have also issued “Serious Warnings and Precautions”

that these drugs are not indicated for treating elderly patients with dementia.

In addition to the very serious risks and dangers these drugs present, they

have no proven efficacy for treating dementia.

January 16, 2009, Eli Lilly pleaded guilty in court to pay $1.42 Billion dollars to settle

criminal and civil allegations.

Notwithstanding the Health Canada and manufacturer’s warnings, the use

of antipsychotic drugs in nursing homes has been increasing in both the Canada & the US.

This matter will be heard by the

Honourable J.D. Rooke, Associate Chief Justice.

Mr. Allan Garber of Parlee McLaws

is representing the Plaintiffs