Despite the light thrown on the mistreatment they suffered during the pandemic, seniors housed in CHSLDs are still neglected. In October, 85 residents of the Boisé Sainte-Thérèse private home in the Laurentians were found with wounds or skin changes following an audit carried out by the CISSS, learned The Press. At the request of the government, the establishment was placed under guardianship for a period of six months.
According to our information, other residents had scratching lesions or nail infections. The needs of many seniors were also not being met.
Given the situation, admissions to the CHSLD du Boisé Sainte-Thérèse, which has 159 residents, have been suspended until further notice.
In recent weeks, shortcomings have indeed been observed at the private CHSLD of Boisé Sainte-Thérèse, particularly in terms of hygiene care for residents, but also in the general organization of work and the supervision of staff.
Valérie Maynard, spokesperson for the Laurentian Integrated Health and Social Services Center
The CISSS des Laurentides has been mandated by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) to act as provisional administrator of the CHSLD for 180 days. Residents and their families were informed and a meeting with the families took place on November 7, said Mr.me Maynard.
Lack of transparency
“The situation is alarming,” laments Philippe Landry, vice-president of the Laurentian Shelter Workers’ Union. “The care department was collapsing, the residents lacked care and no one in the building knew about it. There was no program in place or communication for staff,” he says.
In recent weeks, he had heard of problems in the clinical component. “We heard about some treatments that weren’t being given, but it wasn’t clear, because managers were giving information bit by bit to some people,” says Mr. Landry, who also works in maintenance and in the kitchens at the CHSLD du Boisé.
“It’s not normal that these things happen in a CHSLD and that the employees don’t know about it. It’s either a lack of communication or an effort to hide the situation,” he said. “When there was the guardianship, that’s when the light came on and we all understood that the messages and the communication were not getting through. »
Surprised employees
The announcement of the trusteeship of the establishment surprised many employees. “I was like, let’s see. I hadn’t seen any of that. I’m not in close contact with the residents, so I hadn’t noticed anything. I don’t know what’s going on in the rooms,” says a CHSLD employee who is not part of the care team and who preferred to conceal her identity for fear of reprisals.
The families of the residents, met by The Press leaving the establishment, did not notice any problematic situations. ” I think [ma mère] has very good care and the employees are fine. I’m not complaining too much and I think it’s good,” says Line Cardinal, who comes to visit her mother every day at dinner time.
“I have never observed any mistreatment, the employees do their best,” adds a caregiver who has been caring for his father at the CHSLD for four years.
More stability
Since November 2, a team of managers from the CISSS des Laurentides has been in charge of the provisional administration of the CHSLD. This is the second management change in a few months.
It is difficult for the employees. On the floor, we no longer know where to start. We understand that it is for the best, but we no longer know who is doing what. We are lost.
Philippe Landry, vice-president of the Union of workers of the accommodation centers of the Laurentians
For the next few months, Mr. Landry hopes for stability. “For our residents with cognitive degeneration, the most important thing for their health is stability. It hurts them to have drastic changes, shifting employees and unstable people. It’s not good at all,” he concludes.