Complaints piling up about Domaine des Btisseurs nursing home in Edmundston

The home has only been open a few weeks, delayed because doctors claimed it was understaffed. Now, families are making their own complaints.

• Edmundston nursing home deal reached

• Edmundston nursing home dispute leaves empty beds in new facility

CBC and Radio-Canada have spoken with several families who are upset with the care.

They don't want to be identified, because they fear that will make matters worse for their relatives.

Their complaints include meals being served cold, improper delivery of medicine, and calls for assistance that take up to an hour to be answered.

There have been seniors moved out of the nursing home for the time being, until conditions improve.

Some complaints valid

Some of the complaints are valid, says patient care director Lison Rossignol Daigle, but she pointed out that most of the issues are just part of the growing pains of opening a new, 180-bed care facility.

"Time is the big matter right now with all staff," said Daigle. "With the distance that they have to go through from wing to wing, and from room to room within the wing, that's what's been the most."

The Department of Public Safety says the home's budget is dictated by thenumber of beds, and it`s up to the nursing home's board to manage it.

But MLA for Edmundston-Madawaska Centre and Health critic, Madeline Dube, has family at Domaine des Btisseurs herself. Sheknows about the complaints and agrees that something needs to be done.

"We need extra help, this is normal and we need extra help and we need it now," she said.

Families have been told board meetings will be held early in the new year, and they are hoping that conditions do improve after that.