WINNIPEG — A tragic death at the Parkview Place Care Home four years ago shone the light on a much greater issue, and now an inquest report released Friday shows Manitoba personal care homes are not equipped to handle the increase in dementia patients.
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“I’m sad in the fact that it could have been anybody’s parent,” said Faye Jashyn, “it just happened to be mine.”
Her father Joe McLeod had Alzheimer’s, so did Frank Alexander.
The two men lived at the Parkview Place Care Home in 2011, when McLeod pushed Alexander causing him to fall and hit his head. He later died.
A 40-page report following an inquest into Alexander’s death calls for more beds in secure units for patients with behavioural issues who may become violent and more trained staff to deal with dementia patients.
READ MORE: Alzheimer’s patient violent before fatal attack, inquest told
“It could happen again and possibly will across Canada. It’s not just a Manitoba thing,” said Jashyn
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority currently has 48 secure beds for patients with behavioural issues, but the wait time for those beds is up to a year. The judge said that was “not acceptable.”
“It is surprising and disappointing and it is why we’re investing in creating more beds,” said Health Minister Sharon Blady.
By the end of the year, the WRHA says nine more beds will open. Ten more will be available in three to four years, not enough to reduce the growing wait list.
“Our wait list is about 50 people right now for special needs behavioural so we are looking to enhance that capacity,” said Gina Trinidad, with the WRHA.
The Minister of Health apologized to the families Friday.
“I am so sorry that this is what both families have had to live through and that they’re still living through,” said Blady.
Both families are happy with the recommendations, they just hope they’re made a priority.
“If you’re implementing all of this, hopefully the dollars are available to the homes to get this done,” said Jashyn.
The judge said more money will need to be put into the system but the province wouldn’t say how much it’ll spend and wouldn’t set a deadline on when it will have all the recommendations in place.
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