Nursing home still not permitted to accept new residents
Ten months after a cease of admissions was put in place, a private longterm care home in Niagara Falls still can’t accept new residents.
The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care conducted a complaint inspection regarding allegations of abuse and improper care at Bella Senior Care Residence between July 26 and Oct. 6, 2016.
A cease of admissions was issued on Nov. 24, and compliance orders were issued in several areas, including responsive behaviours, plan of care, infection prevention and control, and quality improvement.
“The cease of admissions continues to be in place at the home,” said ministry spokesman David Jensen.
“As a result of a cease of admissions, the Local Health Integration Network placement co-ordinators can no longer approve the admission of applicants to the home. This ensures the licensee and staff in the home direct all care and program resources to the current residents of the home rather than on new admissions.
“It also focuses the licensee to ensure that issues are corrected quickly which results in care improvements for current residents of the home.”
Asked when Bella will get back to full operations, Jensen said the director must be satisfied the conditions that led to the cease of admissions — specifically risk of harm to the health or well-being of current residents or persons who might be admitted to the home — have been mitigated and that risk to residents has been fully addressed.
“This includes that the requirement that issues identified in the compliance orders are fully addressed and resolved by the licensee.”
Since the cease of admissions was issued, the ministry has conducted several complaints inspections and followup inspections.
Jensen said applicants who were waiting to be admitted to the home cannot be admitted until the cease of admission is lifted.
“Those applicants may consider other LTC home options.”
Michael Bausch, administrator for Bella, said the home is still in the process of satisfying ministry requirements as detailed in Bella’s original plan of correction.
“Several of the original compliance orders have been satisfied, however, there is still some work to do to complete all the tasks,” he said.
“Although it’s difficult to be more specific, we do believe that we are close to remedying all of the remaining items.
“It has been a very challenging period for Bella, but we are encouraged by the number of potential residents waiting for long-term care placement who have indicated that Bella continues to be their first choice. As well, we have been buoyed by the wonderful support exhibited by all of the families with loved ones (residing) at Bella.” rspiteri@postmedia.com Twitter: @RaySpiteri