An 89-year-old senior initially hospitalized in Montreal for pneumonia suffered five falls in less than three months in the health network.
“They have scrapped my mother,” admits Richard Boucher, aged 68, with discouragement. Her mother broke her hip and became confused, so much so that she is now waiting for a place in a CHSLD.
This sad example is far from unique. More than 197,000 falls were recorded last year in the health network, including nearly 600 fatalities, according to the latest accident report compiled by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (see other text).
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“My mother returned to the hospital with pneumonia,” laments Mr. Boucher. I thought she would be safe, not that she would come out worse than when she arrived.”
It was just after Christmas that his mother was hospitalized at Verdun Hospital. Four days later, she was sent to a rehabilitation center to regain her strength.
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Soon, she fell three times, breaking her hip. Then, after an operation to repair it, she returned to another rehabilitation center.
Blood and bruises
There too, it falls twice in a short time. His fifth fall occurred in early March, head first. When her son saw her, her face covered in bruises and blood, he was furious.
In hindsight, Richard Boucher believes that he should have brought his mother home.
“I entrusted my mother to the health system, but no one protects her,” he said. I know it’s not the fault of this doctor or that nurse, but it’s the system.”
Fear of retaliation
Even if he wanted to denounce the sad fate suffered by his mother, he fears that he will upset the cage too much and that he will be refused a place in a CHSLD near his home, in Verdun, as retaliation.
At the hospital, she was also changed rooms four times in two days. “In addition to breaking my mother physically, they are breaking her mentally,” he believes, helplessly watching her become confused and scream for help.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE FAMILY
Only a few months ago, his mother lived with him and got around with a walker. She loved reading and doing word searches. But in the hospital, she no longer even feels like watching television, he notes.
For its part, the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal is not able to answer us due to Good Friday.