13°c Overcast
10°c Light rain
The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
More staff, fewer restraints ordered at seniors home where 91-year-old died
SUMMERLAND, B.C. - Health officials have ordered changes at a Summerland seniors home where a 91-year-old man died after being left alone for days in his room, including an increase in staffing levels and a decrease in the use of restraints.
The Interior Health Authority said Summerland Seniors Village will remain under third-party oversight until those improvements are in place.
Three reviews have been conducted at the facility since Alfredo Bonaldi died Dec. 7, after a family member found him in bed in his assisted living room suffering from several ailments.
Bonaldi had not appeared for meals in the seniors' home for several days but no staff checked on him.
"These reviews have identified common areas of concern regarding staffing levels, education and training, and leadership," said a statement issued Wednesday by Interior Health.
Reviews by the Health Ministry and the health authority found several areas of concern.
Community health workers who were not certified to deliver medication were doing so, notes one report, and there was a lack of compliance on reporting serious incidents.
Staffing levels were noted as a concern, in particular inspectors found evidence of a lack of professional oversight by registered or licensed practical nurses of the assisted living beds funded by the province.
An Interior Health quality review dated Jan. 4, 2013, said the operator must realign staffing levels to meet its current contract obligations.
The health authority has also recommended Summerland Seniors Village enhance procedures for fall prevention and the use of less restraint. The home operator has been given a deadline to address the issues.
Interior Health said it will continue to monitor Retirement Concepts, which operates 15 seniors' homes in B.C., from Williams Lake to Vancouver Island, as well as one facility in Montreal.
A spokeswoman for the health authority said there are no extraordinary reviews taking place on the other two facilities operated by Retirement Concepts within the Interior Health jurisdiction. Care homes undergo annual review.
The BC Coroner's Service announced last month it is also investigating Bonaldi's death.
In August, Bonaldi's wife, who suffered from dementia, fell and broke her femur in an incident in the bathtub. She died 15 days later.
An investigation into that case cleared the staff of wrongdoing.
Summerland Seniors Village came under scrutiny several years ago, when three staff members resigned after explicit photos of residents were taken with cellphones and circulated. Later that year, a care aide worker was dismissed for rough treatment of residents.
In 2007, an employee pleaded guilty to stealing and using residents' credit cards.
— By Dene Moore in Vancouver
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 22 articles for today)
MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group Accelero Capital
9:43 AM 0
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Drug dealer sentenced to 3½ years in prison
- Abrupt departure for Mayor Rob Ford's chief of staff amid 'crack video' scandal
- Bridge collapse survivor who fell in river: 'You hold on as tight as you can'
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Ottawa threatens 'retaliatory measures' over new U.S. meat labelling regulations
- Charges laid against three in Canada Revenue Agency fraud investigation
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Winnipeg woman camps out in front of legislature to protest child welfare
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Lake St. Martin reserve close to getting new home
- 'I told them, "I think that guy downstairs is dead"': teen witness at murder trial
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group Accelero Capital
- Fire crews kept busy battling south Winnipeg, Point Douglas fires
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- New owner for lumber stores
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.