A 76-year-old woman who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease broke her pelvis after falling down alone outside of an assisted-living home in Ferguson’s Cove, N.S., that’s already under investigation.
The home is operated by Grandeur Estates, which has faced zoning and bylaw issues at a separate facility in the past.
“I am unable to comment on this matter at this time. Especially in respect for the family!!!!” owner Jillian Peterson wrote in an email responding to an interview request.
Video of the incident, which happened on Sunday, was provided to Global News by a neighbour of the facility who didn’t want to be identified.
The video shows the injured woman behind the home, located at 5 Fortress Dr., for about two minutes.
She eventually lost her balance and fell over a steep hill, which the neighbour estimated to be a drop of about 6-7 metres.
The injured woman’s children don’t want her full identity revealed at the moment. The MacLean family provided this statement to Global News:
“We are hoping this story about our mother will raise awareness about how vulnerable people are with Alzheimer’s disease. The disease affects many families and more care options and programs are needed. Our mother sustained some very serious injuries as a result of her fall. This was a very tragic incident. Alzheimer’s disease had already taken her mind and now this has broken her body. The collective energy of our family is now focused on her comfort. We would like to thank everybody for their kind thoughts and support during this difficult time.”
The woman has significant bruising, they added.
RAW VIDEO: A 76-year-old with Alzheimer’s disease broke her pelvis after falling outside of an assisted-living home alone on Sunday.
The neighbour, who called 911, rushed to the home with his wife after the woman fell. He said the care worker told him they weren’t aware the injured woman was outside.
The Halifax Regional Municipality started investigating the home in November 2015.
“We’ve received complaints from the public that there’s potentially a land-use infraction. In other words, the potential is there that they’re doing something in that property the zoning wouldn’t allow,” said Brendan Elliott, a senior communications advisor for the municipality.
Specific details about the investigation aren’t currently being released.
“Any time you would run any kind of activity that involves taking care of or renting to more than three people would require a permit,” Elliott said.
No permits have been applied for from anyone at that property, he added.
A follow-up email to Peterson asking how many people currently live at the home went unanswered.
Over the phone, a son of the injured woman said she had left the facility on her own at least once before in the past few weeks. She is now being treated for her injuries.
A trial for issues involving Grandeur Estates’ Thompson Run home in Hammonds Plains, and the municipality is set to start in July, according to Elliott.
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