Ministry launches probe into alleged assault at long-term care home: MPP
Privately operated home in St. Catharines says involved residents have been separated
The Ministry of Health is conducting a critical incident inspection at a St. Catharines long-term care home, looking into abuse allegations after a resident was injured at the facility.
Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch said his office learned about the investigation on Tuesday — being conducted in response to complaints that West Park Health Centre resident Karl Pettay, 85, was allegedly assaulted by another resident at the home on Jan. 16, leaving him with two cracked ribs and a contusion on his right wrist.
Niagara Regional Police arrested another West Park resident Cornelo Kuszyszyn, 73, three days later, charging him with assault as a result of the incident.
Kuszyszyn is scheduled for a court appearance on Feb. 27 in St. Catharines.
“It’s obviously serious enough that it warranted an investigation from the ministry,” Burch said. “That’s a good first step.”
Burch sent a letter to Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Christine Elliott on Jan. 29 requesting the investigation, after being contacted by Pettay’s family.
“I am asking the ministry to undertake a complete review of this physical attack and action that will be taken to ensure the safety of residents like Karl at West Park and also at long-term care facilities across the province,” Burch wrote.
“Families who entrust their senior parents to these institutions expect that those entrusted with their well-being will at all times act professionally and do all they can to ensure proper care and safety at all levels.”
The long-term care home responded by also sending a letter to Elliott, assuring her that the company has taken “immediate action” to minimize risk to residents at the Pelham Road facility.
“We have investigated the family members’ care concerns and have employed strategies to safely manage the resident’s care. At this time, both residents are separated and both the Pettay family and the resident are pleased with the move,” wrote Keith McIntosh, managing director of Southbridge Care Homes Inc., the parent company of the facility managed by Extendicare Canada Inc.
“We want to assure you that we take our responsibility to residents and their families very seriously and that we are taking steps to address this family’s concerns,” he wrote.
West Park is currently facing compliance orders issued by the Ministry of Health after issues were identified during previous inspections.
Ministry of Health spokesperson David Jensen said the ministry will follow up to determine if the long-term care home has addressed the issues identified.
“Repeated non-compliance is taken seriously by the ministry,” he said.
“In cases where non-compliance reoccurs, other measures and legislative sanctions are available to the ministry.”
He said those measures could ultimately include preventing the facility from accepting new residents until the issues are resolved, revoking the operator’s licence “and take steps to operate and take control of the LTC home until the revocation of the licence becomes effective and the residents of the home are relocated.”
Burch said he hopes the provincial government reviews the way homes are inspected, because too often facility operators are given warnings in advance of an inspection taking place.
“You might as well not have an inspection if you’re going to do that,” he said.
“They call in extra staff and stock the fridges and all of that, so you don’t get a real good idea of how the home is operating,” he said.
Burch fears similar incidents could become more common if the provincial government follows through with legislation it is considering, after a leaked document surfaced earlier this week.
“There’s a real problem, first of all, with not having enough staff in the homes,” he said.
“If we have more privatization coming into the system, we’re going to have more problems that we’re seeing.”