Quest resident Gordon Longphee dies from injuries

A 56-year-old man injured last week when he was pushed by another resident at special care home in Lower Sackvillehas died.

A police major crime unit is investigating the death of Quest Regional Rehabilitation Centre resident Gordon Longphee, the fourth homicide of the year in the Halifax area.

On Tuesday Quest chairman Ron Coopersaid incidents such as this one are unfortunate, but cannot always be prevented.

"Things like thishappen from time to time at these facilities," he said.

Longphee was hurton May 11 and taken to hospital, but police were not called until four days later. Cooper said police were only notified after the victim's condition deteriorated.

"We initially were anticipating there would be a hospital visitand a return to the facility," he said.

RCMP saidLongpheedied in hospital on Saturday.

Hisdeath has sparked sadness and concern. BrendaHardiman'sdaughter is a resident of Questand has been the victim of resident-on-resident violence.

"We all fear for a call like the family's received," Hardimansaid. "These people are in care for a reason and they need to be monitored."

Jean Coleman, with the NovaScotiaAssociation for Community Living, saidthe death never should have happened. She saidinstitutions need to be replaced with community living.

"When people are congregated, that's what happens," she said. "Harm happens, whether it's to individuals who are living there or to staff."

Longpheewas born in New Waterford, according to his obituary.

"Gordieloved listening to music. His favourite hymns wereDanny BoyandOut on the Mira.Gordieenjoyed going for drives, having stories read to him and eating his favourite snack,cheezees," his obituary said.

He has two surviving sisters but is predeceased by his father, his mother, and five other siblings.

Laura Arthurs, chiefexecutive of Quest, said they stayed in close contact with Longphee while he was inhospital.

"We work very hard at many levels of safety and intervention in the facility. We provide a very high level of service," she said.

"We cannot control every variable that happens on a daily basis, but we try to be one step ahead of those variables."

RCMP have said a 28-year-old resident was involved in the assault. Cooper said that personis not staying at Quest at this time. He would not say where he's gone or who initiated the move.

Cooper said there was a ratio of one staff member for every three patients at the time of the incident .

Arthurscould not estimatehow manyassaultshave takenplace at the facility. She said almost all clients require the highest level of care and mosthave somebehavioural issues that makeit difficult for them to live in the community.

"The definition of assault is very different depending on the client themselves and their capabilityto understand the world around them," she said.

Nova Scotia Department of Community Services said the death is also being investigated by their staff.

An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

Longphee's funeral will be Friday in New Waterford.