Seniors die at Calgary care facility after infections

CALGARY- A number of families have come forward with explosive claims about the treatment their loved ones received at a Calgary care home.

It’s been one month since 75-year-old Wyonne Somers died at the McKenzie Town Care Centre. She was battling sepsis, an infection of the bloodstream.

Her family says Somers developed a severe urinary infection and leg sores, because her underwear was not changed frequently enough–claims which are now being investigated.

“When you sit in soiled diapers and your footwear, shoes, socks are so badly stained that the laundry can no longer get them cleaned, you know there’s a problem,” says son Dean Somers.

His mother died around the same time as Violet McDonald, a fellow patient at the care centre who also developed an infection and bed sores.

“We apologize to the family for failing to meet their expectations,” said Revere Incorporated, which owns the facility along with 14 other care homes around the province.

Many patients suffer from dementia, and the province estimates that costs the health care system $650 million per year. Families argue more should be spent on staffing, saying there aren’t enough of them to handle the patient load.

“There are 20 patients per unit and there is one nurse and there are two nurses aides, so that’s a lot of people they’re trying to look after,” explains Tiffany Gibbons, whose grandmother lives in McKenzie Center. “So staff are doing the best they can, but in my opinion they are understaffed.”

The government is now investigating the McKenzie facility, and its care policies in regards to the McDonald case. Rivere has also brought in an international geriatric expert to look at the care centre.