Residents being moved as community care home is shut down

A dozen residents of Elm Crest Lodge, a community care facility in Charlottetown, are being relocated because the facility is losing its licenceas of Oct. 31.

The Minister of Health and Wellness revoked the licence acting on recommendations in a decision by the Community Care Facilities and Nursing Homes Board

Elm Crest Lodge is a 14-bed facility on Richmond Street.

Fails tomeet standards

In thewritten decision of Oct. 25 the board says it has "has had extensive involvement with this facility and the Operator" for close to two years and despite its efforts to support her it says "the Board reluctantly has concluded that the Facility is not and will not operate in accordance with the prescribed standards of the Act, Regulations and care standards."

The decision points to shortcomings in planning staff training, care plans for patients and paperwork.

More serious issues were also noted. Including failing to report significant events, hiring staff with criminal records,failing to do background checks, failing to put plans in placeto deal with an ongoing bed bug problem, and failing to follow doctor's instructions for handing out medications.

According to the decision, the board held a number of hearings and put the Lodge under a provisional licence twice since October 2015. There have been five inspections of Elm Crest Lodge since July.

The decision also said it warned the operatortwice, on Aug. 17 and Sept 27 that she might lose her licence.

The board decision was made after a final hearing on Oct. 19.

The operatorof the Lodge,JaniceClow, told CBC she has done everything she can to try to meet the demands of the board, including providing them withall the paperwork requested.

"They don't want to work with me.They want me out," she said."I think I could turn myself inside out and it still wouldn't be enough."

'I'm heartbroken'

She said, acting on instructions from the board, she alsohired a consultant to work with her on a care plan for residents, and other issues, butClowsaid even this has not satisfied officials.

"I'm heartbroken," she said. "I go from extremely sad to furious to everything in between."

Clowsaid she's run the facility for 14 years and some of the residents have lived there for longer than that.

"These residents don't want to go. They're very upset. They're all just like my family and have been for years. Idon't know what else I can do. I don't."

Health officials won't bespecificregarding their issues with the Lodge.

But Kevin Barnes, Director of Health Policies and Programs, said staff are working with residents and their families to find placements at other community care facilities.

"Wecertainly are cognizant that it is a very difficult transition for residents and we're working very hard to support them in terms of their needs through that process." said Barnes.

"Wewant to make sure that the new homes for these residents are a good fit for them."

As of Friday afternoon, nine residents were left in the facility.

Barnes said he was confident homes would be found for all of them by Monday.

Janice Clow has until the end of next week to appeal the decision to revoke her licence. She hasn't decided whether she'll do that.

"I've got my fingers crossed that I'm going to pull a miracle," she said.