NDP repeat call for changes in senior care, citing case of Jessie Sellwood

The death of an elderly woman in long-term care has the opposition NDP repeating its call for changes to seniors care.

Jessie Sellwood, 87, was injured as she was being lifted by a care aide. She died three days later. Her death, originally deemed to be of natural causes, was revised by the coroner to an accidental death.

Jackie Lewis, Sellwood's daughter-in-law, was at the Saskatchewan Legislature Wednesday where the NDP cited the case as an example supporting their call for improvements to senior care.

Lewis, who has experience as a former care aide in the long-term care system, urged people to try and influence the government.

"The care aides you guys can't make the government hire more care aides," Lewis said. "It's the people of Saskatchewan that can make them hire more care aides."

Lewis added that she believes the long-term care system need better oversight.

"The accountability is not there," she said. "It's just not right."

The health minister, Dustin Duncan, said he wants to hear from Sellwood's family.