Latest news with #nursinghome
CBC
6 hours ago
- Health
- CBC
Brothers who gave $50K for palliative care room at nursing home learn tough lesson
Social Sharing The moment brothers Alan and Glenn von Weiler saw the palliative care room at their father's former nursing home — created in his memory — was one for the books, they say. "I think my dad would have been so happy," Glenn said. "My dad believed in giving back to the community. He did that all his life, and now he was able to do it posthumously." But just over a year after they saw the new palliative care room at the Fundy Nursing Home in Blacks Harbour, the brothers have a sour taste in their mouths. They learned from staff at the home that the room has been taken apart. In December 2022, Alan and Glenn's father, Joost, died after living at the home for a while. Shortly before his death, the brothers were so pleased with the care he had received from staff that they decided to make a $50,000 donation to the Fundy Nursing Home. The brothers, who live in Saint John, about 70 kilometres east of the home, spoke with the administrator at the time and ultimately decided on a palliative care room. The money would go into a trust set aside for the room. "It's life-changing for the families, so, you know, they deserve respect — they're not numbers, they're people," Alan said. The largest expenses for the project were the $15,000 in renovations that had to be done and the specialized palliative care bed, which cost about $15,300. Other features of the room included a pull-down, or Murphy bed, kitchenette items, and a heat pump. A shadowbox with their father's photo, a biography, and some of the paintings he did during his life were also added. WATCH | How much do a donor's wishes actually matter? Saint John brothers share cautionary donation story 3 hours ago Duration 3:26 On March 7, 2024, the palliative care room opened, with the von Weiler brothers in attendance. Not only did the room have everything a family could need for loved ones at the end of their lives, they said, but it also had a homey atmosphere that didn't come with regular rooms for residents. But recently, the von Weilers were informed by staff that the room had been disassembled — something the brothers never expected. "The enthusiasm from the staff was phenomenal," Alan said of the palliative care room. "How could I ever think that someone would go in and just take it apart?" The von Weilers wanted to get official confirmation of the dismantling, so they contacted Constance Gilman, the current administrator for the nursing home. In response, they received a letter, which they shared with CBC News. "I would like to apologize to your family about the misinformation that was shared with you, and would like to take the time to explain to you what the home plans to do to ensure that this important service is still in place and that your donation is not forgotten," Gillman wrote. She went on to say that the palliative care bed was being used for a non-palliative care resident because it was more comfortable for that person. "But the problem is, if you have someone coming up that needs a palliative care bed … that bed's not going to be available," Alan said. Because you can't remove a patient from a bed so another one can take the bed. He said the bed, with a special mattress to prevent bed sores, was specifically for palliative residents. Gilman's letter said that to avoid causing discomfort, the home didn't want to transfer a palliative care resident to the new bed. Brothers understand move She also said the palliative care room had been moved to another location with a wider doorway, so resident beds could be rolled into it. The room was now closer to the nursing desk to "minimize the risk" of a resident being "forgotten," she said. The brothers said the former administrator chose a location a little removed from the general traffic area to provide more privacy for families. But even so, Glenn said, he understands that patient health has to come first and moving the room was understandable, if it had the same fixtures as the previous one. Gilman's letter said the kitchenette items would be moved to the new space, but the Murphy bed was broken, so if families wanted to stay overnight, a sleeper chair could be rolled in. The art and the memoriam shadowbox would be put back as well, the letter said. After reading the letter, the von Weilers asked to see the new room. "It was basically an empty room with a recliner in it and a small little kitchenette," Glenn said. "If someone needed a palliative care room that day, it was not available. "I don't think that you should shut something down without opening up the new one." CBC News requested an interview with Gilman but did not receive a response. The von Weilers are still grateful for the care their father received while at the nursing home, but this experience makes them think they would have chosen a different location to donate to, had they known what was going to happen. They wonder if anything would have been different if they'd had a written contract outlining the request. The agreement with the home was a verbal one, aside from a receipt from the home that said, "Donation to memorial fund palliative care room." But legally speaking, there isn't anything that can be done in this situation, according to Toronto business lawyer Jonathan Kleiman. A promise to do something specific with the donated money could be enforceable, he said, but without a proper contract, it's a flippant promise. And even with a proper written agreement, Kleiman said, it's unlikely the contract would have specified a specific length of time that the room had to remain. "I find it very hard to believe that the nursing home meant to offer anything in perpetuity," Kleiman said. "So all the more reason to have something in writing, so you understand what you guys are getting, and there's no misunderstandings." The von Weilers believe this situation will make them more careful with future donations. They'll ask more questions and get things in writing. One of the most upsetting parts of the experience for the von Weilers was how they found out — from a staff member and not management. "I think it's just respect," Glenn said. "If you have people in the community investing in the community, I think that they deserve to know what's going on."
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Manchester care home 'left resident smelling of urine'
A nursing home where one resident was left "smelling of urine" and others were not helped to eat has been placed in special Parks Care Home, in the Gorton area of Manchester, was rated inadequate across the board by inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).Alison Chilton, from the CQC, said the regulator expected to see rapid improvement after the "totally unacceptable" findings, which included five breaches of legal Health Care, which runs the home, has been contacted for comment. 'Performing badly' Ms Chilton said: "It was concerning to see that poor leadership and ineffective risk management had led to people being placed at harm in a place they call home."Inspectors from the CQC visited the home, which looks after up to 120 adults living with dementia and other physical disabilities, between February and visit came as a follow-up to one held in 2024 after which they warned of poor risk assessments, storing of medicines and inadequate staffing levels. Inspectors have now taken action to place the home in special measures after finding the service had failed to improve and was "performing badly" in all areas. 'Horrendous and filthy' Among the issues noted was a rise in infectious illnesses among found that staff levels were "insufficient" to meet the needs of those living there with many patients not being helped to relatives told the CQC staff had spent no time with their loved ones, with some describing poor hygiene practices with residents left in the same clothes for relative told inspectors that their loved one "often smelled of urine" and "sometimes had on other people's clothes".Inspectors found the environment in the home was not safe, with damaged wardrobes, floors and radiators set to a dangerous relative told the agency her loved one's toilet was left "horrendous and filthy" while inspectors found some bedroom floors "felt sticky and unclean" with bedding in some cases found Chilton said many residents were not supported to eat at meal times, no adjustments were made to solve language barriers and staff were often "too busy" to help those in confirmed the CQC had "begun the process of taking regulatory action to address the concerns".She said Advinia Care Homes Ltd would have the right to appeal. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Almost 200 notifications alleging abuse of residents in nursing home at centre of safeguarding controversy
A nursing home at the centre of a safeguarding controversy had almost 200 notifications alleging abuse of residents over a 3½ year period, said a report from a health watchdog. Minister of State for Older People Kieran O'Donnell on Tuesday night published the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA's) interim report on regulatory oversight of two nursing homes – The Residence in Portlaoise and Beneavin Manor in Dublin, which are run by Emeis Ireland. The report was requested following the airing of an RTÉ Investigates programme which made allegations of elder abuse and neglect. The programme included footage of frail people, some of whom had dementia, allegedly being manhandled, 'forced' down into chairs, left in incontinence pads for so long their clothes were soaked, being ignored when they pleaded for help to go to the toilet and having requests for simple activities like going for walks being fobbed off. READ MORE [ Woman in Dublin nursing home left in diarrhoea and vomit-stained bed sheets for 48 hours, says daughter Opens in new window ] In a statement following the broadcast, Emeis Ireland apologised 'unequivocally' to all residents and their families. 'We recognise and deeply regret the breach of trust that has occurred in relation to the service standards we promise, and for any failure to uphold the dignity of some residents at all times,' the company said. 'These lapses fall short of the values and standards we set for ourselves as an organisation.' In its interim report, Hiqa said between January 1st, 2022 and June 5th last, it had received 11 notifications of unexpected deaths residents in Beneavin Manor. Furthermore, it said there were 70 notifications of serious incident or injury to a resident that required hospital admission or resulted in death; 198 notifications alleging suspected or confirmed incidents of abuse to residents, and 11 allegations of misconduct by the registered provider or a staff member. [ What is Emeis and where are its Irish care homes located? Opens in new window ] In the second nursing home, The Residence in Portlaoise, there were 23 unexpected deaths of residents and 40 notifications alleging suspected or confirmed abuse of residents. Hiqa's report states that a high number of notifications received from a service does 'not necessarily indicate a non-compliant service, and often means a strong culture of recognising and submitting incidents which fall into the required notification categories'. The report said it is important to note that notifications are required where there is a suspicion or allegation of abuse, which may or may not be substantiated. These allegations can include a wide range of incidents such as residents having altercations with other residents, the tone someone is spoken to in, through to more significant suspicions or allegations, it said . In a statement, the Department of Health said the content and findings of the interim report is being considered along with a full report which is due from Hiqa by the end of this week. Hiqa said the care depicted in the RTÉ programme 'was wholly unacceptable and an offence to the human rights and dignity of those residents'. 'Hiqa is appalled by the way that residents were treated, and such treatment goes against the core values of Hiqa and its staff,' it added. Hiqa representatives are appear before the Oireachtas health committee on Wednesday morning.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Woman in Emeis nursing home left in diarrhoea and vomit-stained bed sheets for 48 hours, says daughter
Not long after entering the care of the Emeis-owned Belmont House nursing home in south Dublin, 78-year-old Ann Walshe had been left in diarrhoea and vomit-stained bed sheets for 48 hours. Her daughter Michelle Walshe, who recalled the experience, said her mother 'didn't understand the gravity of the situation' because she was so unwell and dehydrated. 'You wouldn't leave a dog like that,' she said. It is yet another allegation against the French nursing home group, the focus of an RTÉ Investigates programme last week, and now the subject of a wide-scale review of its 27 facilities. READ MORE The programme focused on conditions endured by residents at its facilities at Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin, Dublin, and The Residence, Portlaoise . The company has since issued 'a genuine and open apology' to those affected. [ Where are Emeis's Irish care homes located? Opens in new window ] Ms Walshe brought her mother, who has for years been living with dementia and bipolar disorder, to Belmont House in early December 2024. She said she was 'scarred' by the admission process on her mother's first day when it seemed nobody was prepared for her arrival. She said her mother was asked by a nurse hours after entering the facility 'if she wanted to be resuscitated when it came to end-of-life care'. Towels and toilet rolls in her room were left unreplaced when she had norovirus, Ms Walshe also claimed. While discussing incontinence pads, staff were so dismissive, she alleged, that her mother became upset and started to cry. 'Dignity? I haven't encountered it yet within the Belmont walls – talking about her in front of her as if she's not there,' Ms Walshe wrote in an email to the care home seen by The Irish Times. She said she brought her allegations to the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) , the monitoring body, in February this year, but was dissatisfied with its response, telling her, she said, to raise the concerns directly with the care home or with the ombudsman. 'I can't report the horrors, I can't protect my mum,' she said. 'There's no proper procedure in place.' A spokesperson for Hiqa said such information was routinely logged, brought to the attention of an inspector and used to inform regulatory oversight. In 2024, it received more than 1,000 such submissions relating to nursing homes. Concerned parties are first encouraged to raise complaints with the service provider, which is required to have a complaints policy in place. Another woman whose 90-year-old father has been a resident of Beneavin Manor in Glasnevin since August 2023 alleged the treatment he had received 'amounts to institutional abuse'. After he suffered a series of falls in quick succession, she said that in September 2023 she saw him 'hanging off the door' to his room 'shouting for help', while nurses ignored his pleas. Still image from RTÉ Investigates, inside nursing homes. Image: RTÉ On a separate occasion this year, the woman, who requested anonymity, alleged she had found her father 'head to toe covered in his own stale faeces', screaming for help after attempting to clean himself. After asking for a meeting with senior management, a nurse told her sister that such a scene 'was normal for dementia', the woman claimed. However, since the airing of the RTÉ Investigates programme last week, she had 'seen a huge difference, a huge improvement' in the quality of care. 'It's sad to say that this is what it took, but will it last? My fear is for what's next.' Minister of State with Responsibility for Older People, Kieran O'Donnell , has initiated a review of the 27 Emeis-owned nursing homes in the State, while additional safeguarding teams are also being put in place. Emeis has been contacted for comment.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Construction of long-delayed Sask. nursing home project to resume
WATCH: Construction of a long delayed nursing home project in Grenfell, Sask. will resume this summer. Wayne Mantyka has more. WATCH: Construction of a long delayed nursing home project in Grenfell, Sask. will resume this summer. Wayne Mantyka has more. Construction of a long-delayed nursing home project in Grenfell will resume this summer. A sod turning was held nearly two years ago but work did not move ahead because of higher than expected construction costs. Grenfell residents are excited to hear that construction will resume on the facility. Tyler Tomlinson, a pharmacist in the community, said it has been a long time coming. 'It's something that people have been a little skeptical of at times over the last 30 years but it's also something that we've really pushed for and so it's a bit of a culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of people,' he explained. Grenfell has been without a long-term care home since 2015 when mold forced permanent closure of an existing facility. The residents and jobs moved to neighbouring communities. Now, PCL Construction has been awarded a contract to build a new nursing home at the edge of the community. 'It's huge for the community,' Grenfell Mayor Mark Steininger said. 'We've been waiting such a long time and there are so many people that have wanted their loved ones to be close and they've had to be far away.' It follows a failed attempt in the fall of 2023 to get the nursing home project off the ground. A sod turning was held but construction costs came in too high, so the province went back to the drawing board. 'There was some consultations with the community to make sure this was the right size for the community and the community came back with that recommendation that let's proceed with 33 beds so that's what we're doing, and what's great to see is now that project is moving forward,' MLA Kevin Weedmark said. It will take about two years to complete the 33-bed nursing home. After years of waiting, the government is saying with certainty that the project is going ahead.
