Expert: Mary Gordon - 1/5/2006

Question
Hi Mary - well, we followed our gut this evening as my MIL's
blood pressure had dropped severely low and she was cold and
barely responsive and took her to emergency.  After the
paramedics started up IV, within 15 mins there was a noticeable
improvement.  After 1/2 hr and while in emerg, she knew her
name, said she was feeling better and told us she had to go to
the washroom.  The ER doctor confirmed that she was so
severely dehydrated that she was almost at complete kidney
failure.  Accurate readings could not be taken because her
electrolytes, etc. were all over the place.  She is going to be in
hospital for at least 2 days to get her rehydrated.

How is it possible that the Nursing Home doctor told us only
yesterday that he felt she was fine and in no danger - it had only
been 13 days of no food and drink.  I am outraged at the level of
care in this Toronto nursing home.  Is there some sort of review/
critique publication/website on the different nursing homes?  My
FIL was lead to believe that this was one of the better ones but
when I think that we almost lost her (too early) to something
completely and utterly preventable, I am furious.

I am also the mum of 4 children between 3-12 so I completely
relate to the ham reference and we have been running for 2
weeks now and it's because we have absolutely no trust in the
nursing home and their level of care and compassion.

I am pushing for returning her home (she told me tonight that
she wasn't going to eat and that she wanted to go home) and
hiring the lovely companion lady (who cares for her so
beautifully it brings tears to your eyes) to come into the house
and spend more time with her.  My FIL is already spending close
to $2000 and their "Gentlecare" philosophy was clearly to sit by
and watch her die.

I would appreciate your thoughts on this and any references that
I can research for future consideration.

Thanks again for your welcomed assistance.

Deirdre


Answer
Deidre,

You can make formal complaints to the Ministry of Health  (see info on this page)

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/program/ltc/15_facilities.html

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/program/ltc/27_pr_faq.html

In addition, anyone in Ontario, including seniors, their families and retirement home residents, can call the 1-800 Retirement Home Complaints Response and Information Service, free of charge, to get help resolving retirement home complaints or to obtain information about the services and options available to them. The service is sponsored by ORCA and applies to all retirement residences in the province, not just ORCA member homes.

The toll-free line is staffed, five days a week from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. with
message-taking during the evenings and on weekends.

Toll-free: 1-800-361-7254
Web site: www.orca-homes.com <http://www.orca-homes.com/>

Another possible source of help and advice is
http://www.advocacycentreelderly.org/nav/about.htm

Your local Community Care Access Centre may also be helpful. If you call them, you will be assigned a case worker, who can help to assess your mother's needs and work with you to create a plan to meet those needs, and give you information about options.

Here are all the contacts for the Toronto Region

Toronto Region

East York Access Centre for Community Services
1 Leaside Park Dr., Unit 1
Toronto ON M4H 1R1
Phone: 416-423-3559
Fax: 416-423-9800
Web site: www.eyccac.on.ca <http://www.eyccac.on.ca/>

Etobicoke and York Community Care Access Centre
Etobicoke
401 The West Mall, Ste. 101
Toronto ON M9C 5J5
Phone: 416-626-2222
Fax: 416-626-9683
Web site: www.etobicokeccac.com <http://www.etobicokeccac.com/>
York
1400 Castlefield Ave.
Toronto ON M6B 4C4
Phone: 416-780-1919
Fax: 416-780-1749

North York Community Care Access Centre
45 Sheppard Ave. E., Ste. 700
Toronto ON M2N 5W9
Phone: 416-222-2241
Fax: 416-229-6809
Web site: www.northyorkccac-ont.ca <http://www.northyorkccac-ont.ca/>

ScarboroughCommunity Care Access Centre
1940 Eglinton Ave. E., 3rd Floor
Toronto ON M1L 4R1
English: 416-750-2444
French: 416-701-4646
Chinese: 416-701-4606
TTY Toll-free: 1-800-855-0511
Fax: 416-750-8234
Web site: www.scarbccac.org <http://www.scarbccac.org/>

Toronto Community Care Access Centre
250 Dundas St. W., Ste. 305
Toronto ON M5T 2Z5
Phone: 416-506-9888
Fax: 416-506-0374
Web site:  <http://www.torontoccac.com/> www.torontoccac.com

Hope this helps.

Mary