WATCH ABOVE: Toni Stacey took a picture of what appears to be a growth on her mother’s hand and sent it to the health minister. Fletcher Kent has more on the case and on long-term care in Fort McMurray.
EDMONTON — For the past six years, Toni Stacey’s mother has lived on the continuing care floor of Fort McMurray’s hospital. Stacey and her sister recently went to visit and bathe their mother, who has dementia.
“As we were going through her feet and hands we were, like, ‘wow, what is this?'”
Her mother’s hand appeared to be covered in a fungus.
So Stacey took a picture and posted it to Health Minister Stephen Mandel’s Facebook page, demanding help.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Stacey said.
“Something is failing. Something is falling down. Somebody needs to step in. Somebody needs to take care of this problem.”
In her Facebook post, she begged Mandel to help the family, saying: “this is inhumane.”
Thousands have since seen the photo. Some have told Stacey they have their own problems with the hospital.
Calls to Mandel’s office have not been returned, but Alberta Health Services maintains Stacey’s mother and all patients are getting appropriate care.
“As soon as we were made aware of the family’s concerns, we had a physician assess her and make sure she is being cared for appropriately. And we are confident that is the case,” said Shelley Pusch of AHS.
Stacey says her mom needs care and since Fort McMurray currently has no other facilities, she feels trapped.
“It’s heartbreaking. Because you know what? I was forced to put my mom in there.”
Another facility is in the works to meet growing demand. But it’s still getting permits and will take two years to build once construction begins.
Stacey hopes it can be an alternative for her mother when it opens. So that Facebook isn’t her only recourse.
With files from Fletcher Kent, Global News
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