Alberta’s health minister has announced two investigations into high-profile allegations of below-standard conditions in seniors care facilities in Alberta.
The investigations were prompted by recent allegations from Friends of Medicare that a dementia patient was found by staff at a Lethbridge care home, with mice nibbling at her face.
It’s alleged the discovery was made September 1 at the St. Therese Villa.
Friends of Medicare said the patient is recovering from injuries suffered in the incident.
Health Minister Fred Horne said in a press conference Tuesday that he was ‘angry’ such a thing could possibly happen, and complaints from staff have been raised before.
“That’s why I’ve ordered the two investigations to find out,” Horne said. “The best way to avoid these problems is to deal with them when they’re raised.
“I’m extremely angry about this, there’s no reason for these sorts of situations to occur in our health system, I’ll wait and get the report on what happened here, but this is completely unacceptable, it’s intolerable in this province or any other province.”
Along with the investigations, Seniors Minister George Vanderburg will tour the province, to see the living conditions for seniors’ first-hand.
As for the Lethbridge facility, the 200 bed care facility is run by Covenant Health.
Covenant Health said the incident has not been verified, and the incident is under review.
With files from Serena Mah
