AgeCare staff support claims
Some staff at Sunrise Gardens say they are terrified they will lose their job but still want to speak publicly about abuse allegations at the facility.
Three staff members spoke to the Bulletin on condition their identities be withheld.
“Everyone is so scared they will lose their job,” one staff member said.
“They’re (management) covering the fact that there are issues and they don’t want anybody to know.
“It’s not right,” she said.
On Wednesday an AgeCare representative arrived at the home apparently to ready the facility for the audit. Full Story > |
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Allegations of neglect and abuse at AgeCare facilities
Alfred Peltzer compares Sunrise Gardens to prison.
The former resident of the AgeCare facility is one of many raising concerns about the quality of care in a pair of Brooks seniors homes.
"I just felt like I was in prison only there were no bars on the windows. It was just terrible," he said.
Following allegations of abuse in the two private for-profit homes, minister of health Fred Horne sent officials, a government appointed accommodations inspector and a health standard compliance officer to Brooks on Friday.
The allegations were made public at the Alberta Legislature by Brooks families, caregivers and the Wildrose Party on Wednesday.
Over the past three years relatives of residents at Sunrise Gardens and Orchard Manor have been complaining to provincial representatives about what they called appalling living conditions.
During the press conference last Wednesday, concerns about patient abandonment and neglect were voiced.
Patricia resident Darlene Deschamps has been championing the issue since 2011 following the death of her father.
Full Story > |
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Councillor says road lease policy changes will open a can of worms
County council administration was looking for council support to change the road closure – lease and sale policy but council tabled the discussion.
“We’re opening a whole can of worms here,” said Division 1 councillor Clarence Amulung.
Assistant administrator Layne Johnson said when roads are closed and leased by the county, landowners will pay for the lease for a period of time.
“When the renewal term comes up we will send out the notice for the additional lease payments for the next term and more often than not the fees aren’t received,” said Johnson. Full Story > |
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County cautious about proposed license and forms
County council decided to postpone a decision on the proposed regional business license as well as standardized business forms.
“The way it is now it can’t be supported by us,” said reeve Molly Douglass.
At the county meeting Thursday county economic development project coordinator Michelle Gietz suggested council adopt the license, which has been discussed by the Newell Regional Economic Development Initiative (NREDI).
Gietz also presented a standardized business license to replace the varying licenses from across the region. Full Story > |
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Fire permits cancelled, partial fire ban issued
A partial fire ban has been issued by the county due to dry conditions and some high winds.
The ban means no fires can be lit except those in cooking appliances or as campfires in designated fire sites within campgrounds.
The county’s fire guardians will refuse to issue new fire permits until the fire ban is lifted and existing permits are immediately cancelled.
When the ban is lifted all fires must be endorsed with a signed fire permit. Full Story > |
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Healthy lifestyles gaining ground on colonies
In addition to reading, writing, arithmetic, nutrition is getting a fair amount of play in colony schools in the area.
There are seven Hutterite Brethren Colonies with public school programs offering education services in Grades K to 9. Full Story > |
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 | Investigation ordered into AgeCare facilities
Minister of Health Fred Horne is taking allegations about Brooks’ AgeCare facilities seriously.
“The minister ordered the investigation immediately,” said Bart Johnson, Horne’s press secretary.
Last Wednesday a group of residents publicized concerns which were followed by questions about the facilities by the Wildrose Party led by Brooks-Strathmore MLA Jason Hale.
During the introduction of guests at the Legislature, Hale said families have expressed their concerns since 2011 through elected officials and the Protection For Persons In Care.
Full Story > |
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