Family raises questions about elderly woman’s care

LaVallee said her mother is very weak and has Parkinson’s disease and arthritis. Moberly was transferred to her home health region to be assessed for long-term care.

“She was getting worse every day, week by week, dementia kicked in and she would get up and wander. All this stuff should have been noted and I’m sure it must be noted on her chart from the time they transferred her from Prince Albert to La Ronge. Everything should have been there in black and white for all the staff to see,” said LaVallee.

A spokesperson for the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region confirmed the medical history of all patients is made available to the care providers when a patient is transferred.

“We’re reviewing the case to basically determine whether or not this is a critical incident,’ said Andrew McLetchie, CEO of the Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region.

McLetchie could not talk specifically about the case due to patient confidentiality, but he assured paNOW that the health region is taking the matter very seriously.

LaVallee said she wants to know why mother was not properly restrained.

“I asked La Ronge hospital, don’t you have restraints or a T-belt, they said we don’t do restraints here. I said but it’s for her own safety and she said I’m sorry we don’t do that here.”

The elderly woman has since been transferred to hospital in Saskatoon for hip surgery.

“We come to Saskatoon and we found mom in emergency and it just broke mine and my sister’s heart. We were just crying to see her in the condition she was in,” said Calinda.

The family is now reaching out to the health region for answers and is considering legal action. They have also contacted NDP MLA Doyle Vermette.

Vermette told paNOW that he was shocked when he saw the pictures. He said the story sheds lights on a big problem across the province.

“We’ve had family after family come into the legislative assembly, voicing their concern about front-line care not being up to par when comes to short staffing,” said Vermette.

In terms of complaints to his office, Vermette said this is the first time he has heard of an incident like this at the hospital in La Ronge.

“This is the first time I’ve seen a photo like that and had something like that brought to my attention.”

Vermette said he will offer the family any support he can, which could include future discussion during the legislative assembly.

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

Family raises questions about elderly woman’s care

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