Care home staff fired for taking inappropriate photos

The company that runs the Summerland Seniors Village has confirmed that one employee was fired andtworesigned after inappropriate photographs of seniors in their care were taken.

Tony Baena, the vice-president of the Summerland, B.C., facility's parent company, Retirement Concepts, issued a statement Tuesday saying they first became aware of the allegations in October 2006.

RCMP were called immediately and an investigation was launched by the Interior Health Authority, said Baena.

One employee was fired after the health authority investigated the allegations of emotional abuse of residents at the care home, he said.

An employee who took the photos and another who witnessed the photo taking, but did not report it, both resigned, Baena said.

"It is unfortunate that from time to time, health care, like any other industry, is confronted by unacceptable actions by misguided individuals," he said.

"But what's important is that procedures are in place to deal with them quickly and effectively," he said.

Health Minister George Abbott said on Tuesday what the staff did was shocking.

He said the 80-unit facility was brand new at the time the offences took place.

"When a new facility comes on line obviously you have to staff up very quickly to provide the care in those facilities," he said.

"When you do that, you may have the staff who don't have the depth of experience of someone who may have been working in the facility for a large number of years."

Families concerned about care home

Awoman who pulled her parents out ofthe Summerland Seniors Village said she's disturbed but not surprised by the allegations of abuse levelled against the home.

Valerie Tuhkala's mother and father were in the assisted living wing at the facility in 2007, butstayed only five months because it failed to deliver a games room, a library, and quality food, Tuhkala said.

"The food, I wouldn't feed my dog. It was like processed stuff. A quality meal for them would be macaroni and cheese that was so overcooked, it was hard and crunchy," Tuhkala told CBC Newson Tuesday.

Dr. Paul Hassleback, a medical health officer with Interior Health, said abuseallegations at Summerland Seniors Villagewere investigated and the operatortook appropriate action.