Thunder Bay long-term care resident denied breakfast due to staff shortage
Hogarth Riverview Manor short-handed for two hours after staff member calls in sick
A Thunder Bay woman says she wants to make sure long-term care residents never have to go without food or care again.
Sue Gammond's mother-in-law lives at Hogarth Riverview Manor.
Nobody helped her get up or gave her breakfast Saturday morning, Gammond said, after an employee called in sick.
"She had rung for help several times, and no one came."
The incident has eroded Gammond's trust in the system that's supposed to care for her loved ones, she said.
"When one person was missing, it threw them into crisis," she said, adding she's scared it could happen again.
"What if two or three people phoned in? Does that mean they don't have breakfast again? Does that mean they're sitting in a dirty diaper?"
An executive with St. Joseph's Care Group told CBC News the organization has launched an investigation into the incident.
"We never intend to not feed our residents, and if that does occur, that's unexplainable, unacceptable practice," said Meaghan Sharp, vice president of seniors health and chief nursing executive.
Sharp confirmed an employee called in sick Saturday morning, and an area of the home was short-staffed for approximately two hours while managers looked for a replacement.
St. Joe's and the City of Thunder Bay continue to advocate for more resources for long-term care, Sharp said, in light of the fact that residents are living longer and having more complex needs.
"We are giving the best care possible at St. Joseph's Care Group with the funding that we do receive." she added.