Steps to ensure accountability

Fired administrator of Valley View Villa in court in March to face theft charge

Members of the board of directors for Valley View Villa were shocked to learn in the fall of 2016 that the administrator of the nursing home could be responsible for stealing more than $27,000 from the facility over a three-year period, says board chair Bonnie Allan.

Cpl. Ron Bryce of the Pictou County RCMP confirmed this week that following a lengthy investigation police have charged 47-year-old Emily MacEachern for stealing money from the longterm care facility in Riverton, Pictou County.

Police believe the alleged thefts took place between 2013 and 2016 and the investigation indicates MacEachern stole more than $27,000.

MacEachern, who had the top position of administrator of the facility, is scheduled to appear in provincial court in Pictou on March 5.

Allan, who chairs the volunteer board for the Municipality of Pictou County-owned nursing home, said they were first made aware of discrepancies in the fall of 2016 when the board brought in an expert to look over their accounts after experiencing some financial difficulties.

“It got to a point where we turned it over to the RCMP,” she said.

MacEachern was immediately fired at that point. She had been a longtime employee of the Villa, first working as an RN and then assistant director of care before being promoted internally to the top position of administrator, Allan said.

After MacEachern was dismissed the board took steps to fill her position and minimize the impact on residents of the home.

“The number-one concern on our part is the care of our residents,” Allan said. “We wanted to make sure they were well looked after. They’re our priority.”

Since the discrepancies have come to light, Allan said the board has taken steps to ensure greater accountability of the nursing home.

“We have gone outside the staff of the nursing home to find help, support and advice,” she said. “We’re all volunteers on that board. We all bring what we have for experiences and expertise to the board. At the same time we’re not accountants and financial advisers.”

If they hadn’t brought in someone to address the situation, she said they wouldn’t have known about the problem.

“We’ve been working ever since to address the situation at the home.”

ADAM MACINNIS/THE NEWS Members of the board of directors at Valley View Villa have taken steps to provide for better financial accountability at the long-term care facility since a former administrator was charged with stealing money.