12 cases of mistreatment found at Portage la Prairie personal care home

Mistreatment at Portage personal care home Michelle Gerwing reports on what steps must be taken for conditions to be removed from the licence of a care home in Portage la Prairie.

A personal care home in Portage la Prairie has had conditions placed on its operating licence after an investigation discovered 12 cases of mistreatment.

In December 2017, the Lions Prairie Manor Personal Care Home, which is operated by Southern Health-Santé Sud, was put under a review after multiple complaints between August 2016 and October 2017.

The province said the investigation conducted by the Protection for Persons in Care Office found that 17 of 21 complaints were determined likely to have happened and 12 of those instances were deemed to be cases of mistreatment.

None of the complaints were found to involve abuse or neglect.

Manitoba’s Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen said the full report with specific details of complaints won’t be released due to the Public Health Information Act.

“The recommendation to me was that because we have received so many testimonials and evidence from individuals who made these complaints, and those are contained in this report, that it would be an encumbrance to do so,” said Friesen.

“I can tell you that the range of incidents ranged on a continuum of severity,” said Friesen. “Some of these had to do with a how a patient’s personal care plan was adhered to. Some issues involved toileting practices during meal times, people having to wait too long for services.”

“Some of these involved people not being moved carefully, or in accordance with their care plan.”

The Protection for Persons in Care Office recommended seven binding directives to the seniors home, including making sure that staff know the expectations about helping residents use the washroom during mealtimes. Lions Prairie Manor has to prove that these directives have been applied before the conditions are lifted.

Under the conditions placed on the licence, the facility can’t take in new residents and it has to adhere to the office’s reporting requirements within 100 days.

“We believe that today’s actions are prudent. We have every confidence that the facility will be able to meet the conditions,” said Friesen, adding that steps have already been taken.

“We knew that there is trust necessary to rebuild,” said Friesen, saying the province has been in touch with affected families.

Also by Dec. 18, care home staff members must be educated as outlined by the report and the residence has to show progress in staff using an integrated care plan to deliver resident-centred care.

“First and foremost, we would like to extend regret and apology for any mistreatment experienced by residents and their families,” said Jane Curtis, CEO of Southern Health-Santé Sud.

“Significant steps to remedy identified factors have occurred in the past six to nine months and we are committed to continue working collaboratively with residents, their families and the province until the facility fully meets all the recommendations.”