City appoints former Perley and Rideau CEO to conduct long-term care review

The former head of the Perley and Rideau Veterans' Health Centre hasbeen tasked with completing an independent review of Ottawa's long-term care facilities, the city announced Tuesday.

Greg Fougre will undertake the review, which is expected to take five months.Fougre worked in seniorcare for three decades, including a 17-year stint as CEO of the veterans' home.

He said hispriority is tointerviewresidents, family members and staff, in that order.He willalsospend time in the homes to get a better understanding ofthe environments.

Fougresaid any form of abuse is "totally unacceptable at any time, anywhere."

The review comes after incidents of verbal abuse described as "disturbing and offensive"were captured on video at the city-runPeter D. Clark Long Term Care Centre.

• 'Disturbing and offensive' verbal abuse at city-run care home caught on video

The accused employee was fired in September along with two other workers who had witnessed the abuse but did not report it.

City manager SteveKanellakoslauded Fougrein a memo to the mayor and citycouncillors.

"Mr. Fougre has been involved in seniors' initiatives at the local and provinciallevels, working in areas such as long-term care policy, planning, funding and legislative compliance." According to the memo, Fougre has received many awards and honours for his work.

The review is set to begin Nov. 1, and will be submitted by March 31, 2018, withrecommendations for measures to prevent further abuse.The city has already held 13consultation sessions with family, friends and volunteers at the homes.

"It's very important with the most vulnerable residents that the environment be as stable as possible, that the caregiver be as stable as possible because you need to create a safe environment so residents have a level of comfort in the people they see every day," saidFougre.