Caressant Care, Lindsay says it welcomes new ‘partnership’ with Ministry to address care issues
A Lindsay nursing home says it will address compliance issues quickly with the help of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
Debbie Boakes, vice president, operations, for Caressant Care Nursing and Retirement Homes, acknowledges the ministry conducted “a series of inspections to assess the situation here at the Mary Street Home.”
“After observing a number of non-compliance issues, the Ministry has made the decision to issue an order to cease admissions, as well as an order to bring in assistance with day-to-day management of the home. We welcome this new partnership and the opportunity for extra support to ensure we’re providing the best care possible for every resident,” Boakes says.
The 124-bed home, at 240 Mary Street West, was referred to in a letter posted to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s site. A Ministry representative wrote it is his “belief that there is a risk of harm to the health or well-being of residents of the long term care home or persons who might be admitted as residents.”
Brad Robinson, assistant director, long-term care inspections branch, was the letter’s author. That was effective Sept. 30, until further notice under section 56 from the Fixing Long-Term Care Act.
“We take these non-compliance issues very seriously,” says Boakes, “and they will be addressed swiftly.”
“We are already putting measures in place to ensure our staff are retrained and understand the consequences of having left even one issue raised unresolved.”
It was just in late July when Caressant Care on McLaughlin Road in Lindsay was ordered to hire a third-party management company citing safety issues.
As an employee of Caressant Care I was often disappointed at the lack of proactive behaviour as an organization. The corporation rarely took action to improve deficiencies unless mandated by the ministry. Requests would be declined due to “budget restraints”. This company, and it’s owner, consistently placed profits over their staff, residents and families. Unfortunately I see very little changing unless mandated and the owner is at risk of loosing LTC bed licenses.
This company was already under ministry oversight at their other home in Lindsay when RMH came in to clean that mess up (2021).
The home only reverted back to their same old practices once RMH thought matters were under control and they turned control of the building back over to the company.
During the summer of 2022 the home was once again ordered to hire a third party to run the home likely due to lack of management oversight and “cost cutting measures”.
Fast forward to the end of summer 2022 and this 2nd location is now in trouble.
So what has this exercise taught this company ? Absolutely nothing.
This should speak volumes to the public in general about privately owned LTC and retirement homes.
As a former employee of this company, I can honestly say that I don’t fell anything has or will ever change until the homes are no longer in this company’s control.
There’s always alot of lip service from head office, to the newspapers, to try and create a positive spin for the mess they’ve created but it’ll be same old, same old, once the ministry leaves again. Shame on governments for allowing this mess to fester in the first place and for making our seniors and the vulnerable the victims of shareholder profits.