The daughters of a 79-year-old resident at Buffalo Grace Manor in Lethbridge, Alta., were shocked to find video evidence of their mother being repeatedly struck by another resident in the facility’s dementia ward. Despite raising concerns with the management multiple times, the family felt their concerns were neglected. They installed a camera in their mother’s room, which captured instances of neglect such as lack of toileting, dirty conditions, and being left uncovered at night. The family pays $2,300 a month for full-time care, but felt that the care provided was inadequate. The final straw came when two fights were recorded in their mother’s room within a week with another resident.
The incidents captured on video included a neighboring resident entering the room and hitting the elderly woman, as well as sitting on her bed and punching and kicking her on another occasion. The family felt that the staff were not adequately monitoring the situation, with the perpetrator still able to enter the room multiple times a day. Despite the family’s interventions, the staff only became aware of the situation when the Lethbridge Police Service was called to the facility after the second incident. While the family received an apology from the other resident’s family, they placed blame on the management team for the lack of accountability in addressing the issues.
The daughters of the elderly resident expressed concerns about the lack of staffing and resources at the facility, noting that the caregivers were overburdened and unable to provide the necessary level of care to the residents. A former care aide also shared her experiences, citing a lack of staff, poor management, and insufficient supplies for caregiving duties. The former employee alleged that staff were required to pay for their own supplies and that the environment was not conducive to providing proper care for residents in need. Covenant Care, the operator of Buffalo Grace Manor, responded to the video by launching an internal investigation and reaffirming their commitment to the safety and well-being of the residents.
Despite the assurances from Covenant Care, the family of the elderly resident decided to move their mother to a different facility due to the ongoing issues they faced at Buffalo Grace Manor. They felt that the facility did not take adequate responsibility for the neglect and mistreatment their mother experienced. The family emphasized their commitment to advocating for the safety and well-being of all residents at care facilities, stating that they would not simply walk away from the situation but continue to raise awareness and hold facilities accountable for ensuring the proper care and treatment of their residents. They highlighted the importance of ensuring that all residents are treated with dignity, respect, and compassion in senior care facilities.
