The Ottawa police elder-abuse unit is investigating a nursing
home after staff discovered maggots had infested a resident’s
leg wound, landing the woman in hospital and horrifying her
family.
The discovery suggests flies laid eggs and larvae hatched in
the sore before anyone noticed.
It takes days for fly larvae to reach a full-grown stage,
something that should not happen in a properly treated patient.
In the most recent incident, the elderly resident failed to
get one of the twice-weekly dressing changes required for a
chronic “venous stasis ulcer” on her leg.
When staff finally removed her bandage on Oct. 10 after six
days, they found the sore crawling with maggots and sent her
to hospital.
Extendicare Inc., West End Villa’s owner, said in a statement
that it can’t comment on specific residents.

The Ottawa force is investigating but will not comment on
specifics to avoid compromising the probe, said Const. Chuck
Benoit, a police spokesman.
Ontario Health Ministry spokesman David Jensen said a “critical
incident” inspection was carried out at West End on Oct. 18.
An order for a “voluntary plan of correction” was issued to the
home, and a report will be posted on the ministry website in
November, he said.

Two years ago, the elder’s daughter had asked that the nursing
home remove the other resident living in the elder’s room,
believing the person to be “very dangerous.” The request was
denied and her mother was almost killed in a subsequent attack.
She sued the home, with the case eventually settled out of court.
01/11/16