Interior Health suspends new admissions at Summerland Seniors Village | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Interior Health suspends new admissions at Summerland Seniors Village

Summerland Seniors Village, the retirement home accused of neglecting a senior for days and ultimately causing his death, continues to be under the watchful eye of Interior Health until recommendations outlined in recent quality reviews are part of daily operations.

The retirement home was investigated after multiple complaints of neglect, including those from the family of 91-year-old Alfredo Bonaldi in December, 2012. Bonaldi's family say they found him suffering from dehydration and kidney failure because staff didn't follow up on absence reports filed when Bonaldi missed meals. He was taken to Penticton Regional Hospital where he later died.

Summerland Seniors Village is owned by Retirement Concepts. President and CEO Azim Jamal said the incident resulted in an internal review and formalization of the communication process for the interim until Interior Health completed their investigation.

Interior Health announced today a clinical consultant, brought to the facility Dec. 1 to work with site management overseeing the Residential Care section and another brought in Dec. 6 to oversee Assisted Living will remain.

"Interior Health's number one priority is the safety and quality of care delivered to seniors in care," says IH regional director of residential services Karen Bloemink. "We have taken complaints about this facility very seriously, which is why we conducted our quality reviews and continue to maintain a presence at this site."

Three reviews have been conducted and completed—a quality review by Interior Health into residential care on Nov. 2 and a second review on assisted living Dec. 4. The third review was conducted by the Ministry of Health through the Assisted Living Registrar. These reviews represent a snapshot in time of the facility's operations.

Reviews include interviews with clients, family members and facility owners and staff. Documentation including incident reports and clients charts are also part of information collected as well as results of inspections that took place Oct. 31 and Nov. 14.

Infractions identified during the two inspections are being addressed says Interior Health and the last meeting between facility staff and the operator occurred Jan. 14.

Summerland Seniors Village has been directed to take the following steps in the coming months:

  • Increase staffing levels to ensure quality of care for clients
  • Bolster its leadership team and nursing oversight to provide stronger support for frontline staff
  • Create clearer processes for communicating with staff, residents and their families and/or caregivers, particularly relating to changes in client care needs
  • Develop enhanced procedures for falls prevention, wound care and the use of least restraint
  • Provide ongoing education and training for staff

Interior Health says it will continue to monitor Retirement Concepts and its adherence to recommendations through its residential services and home and community care departments and licensing branch. As well, the Ministry of Health's Assisted Living Registrar will also monitor progress. New admissions to the facility were suspended in December and will remain suspended while changes are being made.

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