There were problems at the Gibsons Garden Inn (GGI) long before Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) started reassessing seniors and moving them from the site last month, Coast Reporter has learned.
Incident reports of stolen narcotics, theft of money, attempted suicide and the death of a woman left sitting overnight on a commode at the seniors' residence were just a few of the reasons former Gibsons Garden Inn manager Margaret Wilson quit and left the Sunshine Coast.
"Everything there was such a big secret I only found out about things like Mary's death by accident," said Wilson, adding there was little if any communication between VCH and Gibsons Garden Inn staff throughout the four years she worked at the site. Mary Bannerman was 89 years old when she was left sitting on a commode overnight last October. She was checked by VCH staff, who told her to go to bed numerous times. Then, Bannerman was left to get herself to bed, and in the morning staff found her still on the commode, having suffered a stroke, as outlined in a critical incident report filed by VCH staff on Oct. 26.
She was taken to hospital on Oct. 12 and died there on Oct. 18.
Bannerman's niece, Edna Stitt, was told of the death promptly by VCH staff, but not of the circumstances surrounding it."Joanne Evans [of VCH] called me about a month later and said [Bannerman] had a stroke while in the bathroom and that they were going to do an inquiry. And we were also told that the LPN involved was let go," said Stitt.
However, Stitt was never given anything in writing about the circumstances surrounding her aunt's death. "Now we've got this lingering feeling that if someone could have helped her sooner maybe she would not have died," said Stitt.
This incident was not made public at the time. More incidents of a serious nature took place around October of last year. A theft of narcotics and cash was reported to the police, and Gibsons Garden Inn staff heard of an attempted suicide by a client."I remember that with Julia Reid," said Wilson, the former GGI manager. "She had very weak legs and she was a bigger woman. I put chairs all down the hallway and I walked with her and told her to sit whenever she wanted to because there was no hurry I figured getting her walking would help her build up strength in her legs. Well, the nurses saw me doing this and got really upset, saying she had to do things for herself. There was always some sort of conflict," said Wilson.
Shortly after this, Reid attempted suicide by slitting her wrists. She did not succeed and was moved to another care facility on the Coast.
Cheryl Veley, the current manager of GGI, said another recurring problem at the facility was vomit or fecal matter being left on the floor overnight and found in the morning by GGI staff.
"That's something the LPNs should take care of as soon as it happens. Then our staff can come in later and do a thorough clean of the room," said Veley.
Lack of communication and a clear understanding of VCH and GGI staff roles have caused conflict at the site between the two bodies, says Veley.
"We've tried to have several meetings to discuss these issues, but it seems we are never heard and our concerns are never addressed by VCH," said Veley.
She says the lack of communication at the site has led to increased conflict and secrecy over how things are handled.
"For example we [GGI staff] are not even allowed on the second floor any more," said Veley, explaining clients needing regular medical attention are housed on the second floor along with VCH staff.
Now the health authority has told the Hospice Society to move out of GGI. The society had two hospice rooms on the second floor.
In a letter to GGI owner Irma Hohn on Feb. 28, the Sunshine Coast Hospice Society wrote, "Due to the Vancouver Health Authority's new direction, the Hospice Society hereby gives formal notice that rental of rooms No. 201 and No. 202 will end March 31, 2005."
On March 8, VCH staff were packing up boxes in the hospice rooms and taking down pictures hanging in the hallway.
"It just seems really petty and mean," said Veley, noting some of the photos in the hallway belonged to GGI and other clients.
Housekeeping staff say they are constantly dealing with tension at work and the feeling of a "bad divorce" hangs over GGI.
Recently GGI failed to comply with the assisted living regulations brought into force by the newly created office of the assisted living registrar.
Gibsons Garden Inn was originally a hotel. In 2000, the hotel began housing seniors as a pilot project with Coast Garibaldi Health. The aim was to provide assisted living spaces on the Sunshine Coast so seniors needing this care would not have to move off-Coast. Later, VCH took over administering care at the facility and the pilot project was extended year after year, with GGI staff providing the facility, food, laundry and cleaning staff. VCH was responsible for providing care to the residents.
Once the new assisted living regulations came into effect, VCH applied for a licence to continue administering this service at GGI, but the assisted living registrar denied that application. Shortly after, GGI staff compiled their own application, which was also denied by the registrar.
Now GGI staff plans to appeal the registrar's decision. Veley has retained a lawyer to fight VCH, alleging the authority is "acting in a prejudicial manner with respect to the Gibsons Garden Inn." She said GGI would file an appeal to the registrar's decision to not grant GGI assisted living status. Veley said there are rumours the health authority will no longer continue in the pilot project at GGI, but nothing has been formally told to Veley by VCH.
"My question is, are my people safe? What is going to happen here?" she said.
Those are questions VCH did not answer by press time on Thursday afternoon.
Inquiries to the office of the assisted living registrar were also left unanswered, with a representative of the registrar saying, "We feel it is unfair to comment on this while it is in the appeal process."
In the meantime, residents at the Gibsons Garden Inn who have been reassessed to need a higher level of care are still being told they have to leave the facility or risk having their funding cut.
Most of the 17 residents affected by this reassessment have already moved, and the remainder are slated to move before the end of the month.
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