Repeated neglect at Victoria seniors home must stop, NDP says

A seniors care home in Victoria has been cited for dozens of health and safety violations but it continues to operate without sanctions, according to internal documents released by the province's opposition party.

The New Democrats obtained internal reports to the Vancouver Island Health Authority through a Freedom of Information request, detailing the treatment of residents at Beacon Hill Villa, dating back to 2002, party leader Carole James said Wednesday.

Some of the cases cited:

• One woman was found strangled to death by the restraint on her wheelchair.
• Another man wasn't bathed for 11 days.
• Water was poured on a resident in order to make her change her clothes.
• A female patient died one day after falling but her death was improperly reported.

Beacon Hill Villa,an 80-bed facility owned and operated by Retirement Concepts and funded by the government through the Vancouver Island Health Authority, has been investigated 10 times by the health authority in the past five years, the documents state.

"Vancouver Island Health Authority can't be trusted to protect seniors at Beacon Hill Villa," James said. "Its own internal reports show that it did nothing to protect seniors despite knowing for years that seniors were being mistreated at the facility."

In June 2005, the health authority ordered Beacon Hill Villa to stop taking new residents for four months, but the order was rescinded one month later.

Last week, it began another internal review of the facility.

James said the Liberal government should order officials to take over the facility and to conduct an independent review.

"Families and seniors at Beacon Hill Villa deserve better," she said. "They shouldn't have to live one more day fearing for the health and safety of seniors in that facility."

Health minister confident in officials

B.C.'s Minister of Health George Abbott said Wednesday evening he willwait for an internal quality of care review, now underway by the health authority.

"I have confidence in the senior executives at the Vancouver Island Health Authority," he said.

"I don't think there is value on speculating on the outcome of review or on any measures to remediate until we actually see those."

CBC News has learned the internal review and its recommendations are to be made public on Thursday.