The provincial government admitted Monday that the health system didn’t do enough for one senior living at a Calgary care centre, who died in hospital last month.
Cassie Liska, the daughter of Violet McDonald, 73, who died in October after being rushed to hospital earlier this year, believes staff at McKenzie Towne Centre in Calgary is to blame for her death – they allege she was neglected.
In February, the family realized how bad McDonald’s case had become, saying she had serious bed sores that became infected; she had sat in her own filth for two days.
“It’s inexplicable to me how a loved one could have wounds that cause infections that reach to the bone,” Wildrose Seniors Critic Kerry Towle said.
A government investigation that followed found allegations of abuse were founded – and Health Minister Fred Horne admitted Monday that what happened to McDonald, should not have taken place.
“There is no excuse for a preventable death to occur in the health care system, let alone the continuing care system,” Horne said.
The facility apologized to the family, and said McDonald refused care repeatedly.
“We do apologize to the family,” Joanne Dykeman with the McKenzie Town Centre said in a phone interview from Mississauga, Ontario. “Because of the challenge of treating their loved one, we’re not able to offer the level of care to which we are accustomed, and we do apologize for that.”
McKenzie Care Centre said they welcome a review.
The Protection for Persons in Care Report recommended more communication between care workers and the family, and finding ways to look after patients, even when care is refused.
Horne said AHS workers are monitoring McKenzie Town Centre – critics are pushing the province to create an independent senior’s advocate.
With files from Serena Mah
