Abuse surges among elderly care residents
A CBC investigation has found that reports of residents abusing one another have surged in Manitoba care homes and hospitals.
According to the results of a provincial investigation tabled by Manitoba's Ombudsman, there were 657 reports of assaults between care home residents in 2005.
In 2010, that number had nearly doubled to 1,217.
Many of the reports are violent incidents, such as attacks with canes, a resident being pushed into a fireplace, even sexual assaults. And in most of the cases, there has been serious harm.
In June 2009, one resident pushed another to the ground but what stands out is the report from an investigator with the provincial Protection of Persons in Care Office (PPCO).
It stated the abuser had already been written up for abuse 18 other times. It further states the abuser is "likely to pose a serious risk to other residents, especially as the reports identify a trend towards an escalation in aggression."
Bernadette Preun, an assistant deputy minister at Manitoba Health, couldn't explain why something wasn't done sooner about that abusive resident.
"In this particular case, there was really good follow up on each of those particular pieces whether there needed to be a change in the care plan," she said.
PPCO reports on abuse incidents
- Alleged abuser lifted the victim and threw the person across the hall and … hit the other wall.
- Resident sexually abusive to two residents; poses an ongoing risk of being sexually inappropriate.
- Resident is sexually abusive to residents, has a history of sexual abuse and sexualized behaviour towards staff and family members.
- Resident grabbed another resident, punched him, pushed him to the floor, then punched several more times.
- Unwitnessed altercation between two residents, both sustained serious harm, including a fractured hip; blood found all over the floor. The victim was known to wander and disrupt other residents in their rooms.
In another case, the abuser was involved in eight other incidents involving other residents.
And in yet another case, PPCO report stated a resident was involved in "three consecutive incidents of physical abuse towards this and other residents.
"Each incident had the potential to cause serious bodily harm to the victim."
And those cases are only the ones we're hearing about. The provincial ombudsman has said PPCO's threshold for what constitutes abuse is too high making it "possible to have abusive actions, even criminal conduct that will not be considered abuse by the PPCO."
So there may be many other cases that don't meet the PPCO definition. But there are always reviews and those types of incidents could be included one day.
"I think that we always want to strive to improve what we're doing. The protection for persons in care office, we do need to continue to improve what we do," said Preun.
Death at care home
The incidents of abuse came to a head this week when an 87-year-old man died.
Frank Alexander was shoved in a confrontation with an Alzheimer's patient at Parkview Place personal care home on Edmonton Street in Winnipeg.
He fell backwards and struck his head on the floor in the incident, which happened on March 24.
Alexander died late Monday night after spending the weekend in hospital in critical condition.
Joe McLeod, 70, had been charged with aggravated assault but since Alexander's death, police have been consulting with the Crown to see if the charge might be upgraded to manslaughter.
The Alexander family has also said they want a detailed inquiry into their father's death to effect change on the provincial elder care system and increase safety for residents.
McLeod's family has said he has a history of aggressive behaviour.
He was jailed last fall for allegedly assaulting his wife, Rose, which led to him being admitted to the care home.
Michael Alexander said McLeod should have been in a more secure facility.
"He should not have been there," he said during a press conference on Thursday.