Editor: I have read over inspection and complaint reports for every residential care facility in B.C. I believe that you will be just as disturbed by this information as I am.
There are 105 senior facilities in this province which have committed multiple infractions, some of them consistently over two to three years. The director of licensing has the power to put a stop to this by revoking a licence, changing the terms of a licence, or changing management. In most cases, the provincial government is choosing not to.
The Ombudsman made approximately 145 recommendations to the health ministry in a report published in 2012. Only 10 of them have been implemented, while the rest are still being considered or, three years later, are still in progress.
The most interesting and suspicious fact is that only two of the recommendations were rejected outright. One is penalizing and fining facilities for non-compliance.
My research has shown that the neglect of our seniors is mainly due to inadequate minimum government standards, poor management and no penalties for non-compliance.
I have researched the facilities in your area which are committing multiple infractions. These are under the auspices of the Fraser Health Authority,.
I am sorry to inform you that half of the entire total for the province is in your area.
There are 12 facilities in Abbotsford on the list; five in Surrey; two in Mission; eight in Maple Ridge; eight in Burnaby; six in Coquitlam; three in Langley; four in Delta, two in Pitt Meadows; one in New Westminster and one in Port Coquitlam.
I am hoping that you are as concerned for the well-being of our seniors as I am. I am putting as much pressure on the government as I can to bring about a change in the senior health care system.
I have already gained the attention of the media in my own area. The more that this issue is kept in the public eye, the more chance there is that the government will have to make a change in its policies and standards. Our seniors need your help. Please don’t let them down like our government has.
I can be reached at 1-250-835-0063
Judy Galley,
Salmon Arm
