Disturbing data shows that many continuing care and supportive living operators are not being held accountable for a lack of care provided to seniors and unsanitary conditions, says the Alberta NDP.
Operators are also failing to fix problems in a timely manner, according to inspection data on the province’s website.
But Alberta Health says appropriate follow-up inspections have taken place and that concerns have been addressed or are currently being addressed.
According to the NDP, information buried on the website shows that in 2023 a total of 337 non-compliance issues were still marked as unresolved. They included:
• 59 inspections resulting in non-compliance for hygiene issues, including 32 inspections that found policies and procedures weren’t properly in place to ensure seniors were offered a minimal two baths a week.
• 138 inspections resulting in non-compliance on infection prevention and control.
• 45 inspections resulting in non-compliance with nutrition and hydration.
Additional inspections performed by public health inspectors found some of the kitchens in facilities lacked cleanliness. There were reports of rodent droppings, repeated instances of mold, and one facility even had 12 repeated and frequent non-compliant inspections about odour control that took over 10 months to resolve.
Data shows that the incidence of substandard care and maintenance have doubled since 2018, say the NDP.
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Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley said the UCP government’s recent elimination of legislated minimum standards of care so operators could have more ‘flexibility’ should raise alarm bells with all Albertans.
“Even before these so-called flexible regulations, the data shows just how inept the UCP is at ensuring our loved ones are getting the high-quality care they deserve,” Notley said in a statement.
She said neither these operators nor the government has demonstrated that they have earned the right to be flexible in providing care for Albertans.
“If anything this shows greater need for additional minimum standards, including legislated care hours, and more resources for inspection and enforcement.
“There is a dangerous lack of transparency and accountability that is growing under this UCP government.”
The NDP is calling on the province to require a four-hour minimum care standard be legislated as it is in Ontario; address chronic under funding and under staffing; provide better enforcement of all standards; make inspections easily available; and restore and expand the independence and the scope of the seniors and disabilities advocates.
“In light of the horror of motel medicine and now these disturbing reports of unchecked issues in care facilities, Albertans need these seniors and disabilities advocates to fight for them,” Notley said.
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Andrea Smith, press secretary for the Health Minister’s office, said the office has confirmed with the Licensing and Compliance Monitoring Branch of the Continuing Care Division at Alberta Health that the appropriate follow-up inspections have taken place and the concerns with the five specific facilities have either been addressed or are currently being addressed with continued oversight by the inspectors.
“We take non-compliances very seriously. The minister also recently expanded the division in Alberta Health responsible for investigating these issues,” Smith said in a statement.
“Alberta Health monitors all facilities with outstanding non-compliances and escalates enforcement when the non-compliances could negatively impact the health, safety or well-being of residents.”