Cases of nursing home abuse in Ottawa
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A comprehensive series of investigative articles last year by the Ottawa Citizen showed rampant cases of abuse in most of the city’s nursing homes — some resulting in death. It seems not much has changed at these homes in 2018. The newspaper in Ontario’s capital had a look at reports from the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care and has found that 16 of the city’s 27 long-term care facilities have received infractions regarding elder abuse in the first few months of 2018.
The 83 infractions run the gamut — from those less serious like incomplete record keeping to those which are severe, like residents abusing other residents. There were 16 cases of abuse reported — four in which residents’ care was cited prior to the residents’ deaths. Many incidents of abuse allegedly go unreported, so accurate documentation is often difficult to come by. In one of these facilities, one particular resident was referred to as having sexually abused other residents numerous times, but ministry reports refer only to residents by a number due to privacy issues.
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This particular home was slapped with a noncompliance infraction for not reporting the incidents properly. At four homes run by the city of Ottawa, incidents of staff abusing residents and residents abusing residents is continuing. It seems resident-on-resident sexual abuse continues to be an ongoing concern. Many of the victims are cognitively impaired and can’t defend themselves.
Those who suffer elder abuse in any form have the right to speak to a lawyer to inquire about possible compensation. If a resident of a nursing home cannot speak for him or herself, a family member has that right also. A compassionate Ontario lawyer may be able to offer prudent legal advice to help senior abuse victims — whether they have been abused while in care or not.
Source: ottawacitizen.com, “Ottawa nursing home reports reveal fresh cases of abuse, death“, Drake Fenton and Alison Mah, March 7, 2018
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