When Camille Parent chose St.Joseph’s at Fleming for his mother’s new residence, he thought it would be a safe and comfortable place for her.
He is now questioning that decision after obtaining new video from her room.
One video shows another resident coming into his mother’s room and throwing something at her. His mother gets out of bed and throws the object back. She then proceeds to close her door. At that moment the resident pushes door open while his mother is still standing there.
The altercation goes on for about five minutes before a staff member steps in.
There are more examples of his mother’s door to her room acting as, what he calls, “a revolving door.”
“What I’m concerned about is someone coming in her room and she ends up being pushed or she falls but for that matter it can happen anywhere in the facility because there is no staff to keep an eye or to redirect.” Parent says.
It was more than a month ago when Parent showed Global News more videos.
One showing a staff member shoving a soiled rag in his mom’s face. In other video, that same staff member is seen manhandling his mother as she changes her.
Four employees have since been fired and Peterborough Lakefield Police are investigating.
“At this stage in our investigation,” Inspector Larry Charmley said. “We’re specifically centering around a possible assault charge.”
The ministry of Health and Long Term Care has suspended new admissions to St.Joseph’s with the belief that there is risk of harm to the health and well being of residents.
Gerry Mason understands that risk. His Mother passed away in April and he has questions surrounding her death. Mason met his mother at the hospital, after staff at St.Joseph’s told him she had fallen. He says she was bleeding profusely from the nose, eyes and mouth, and that she was badly bruised in the face.
“She started to cry and she basically said to me ‘Gerry look what they did to me,’” he said. “And those were pretty much the last words to come out of her.”
Mason says other hospital tests, including a CAT scan and x-rays revealed no internal injuries. He also showed Global News various medical reports that he questions. One report stated that his mother was to have new medication “as per daughter’s request” but he is an only child.
His mother’s death is now under a coroner’s investigation.
The CEO of St.Joseph’s Allan Cavell would not comment on individual cases, citing privacy.
But in a phone conversation with Global News said he has not seen the latest videos from Parent but that “they are following up on each incident.”
Meanwhile, Parent will be sending the new videos to the nursing home’s board and Ministry of Health officials.
“The only thing that brings me back to is hearing the voice of Deb Matthews telling the public, the people who put her in place, that there is zero tolerance and that she’ll have no part of it but it’s continuing.”
In an email to Global News, Cavell said the facility will be providing updates on the measures they are putting into place.
The province issued 11 compliance orders. Some of those related to what they call “responsive behaviours” and St.Joseph’s will not be able to take on any new residents until staff can prove that they have met the orders.
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