Granddaughter of vulnerable resident berated by caregiver calls for legislative change in Manitoba

The family of a Manitoba senior heard in a recording being berated by a manager is speaking out and demanding more protection. CTV’s Harrison Shin reports.

A granddaughter of a vulnerable resident who got berated by a care worker at a privately-owned assisted living facility in Pinawa, Man., is speaking out—calling for a legislative change.

Caitlin Sewell is the granddaughter of a vulnerable resident at The Ironwood Gardens Elder Care in Pinawa. CTV News first reported the incident on March 17 after a former caregiver at the facility brought forward an audio recording containing the facility’s care manager, Z’Anne Moore, berating a vulnerable resident on March 6.

“I cried. She’s such a great person; she’s kind, smart and funny,” Sewell described her grandmother on Tuesday. “Just to hear that somebody had been picking on her and we didn’t know—it was heartbreaking.”

Sewell stated that the care manager who berated her grandmother, Z’Anne Moore, remains employed and continues to work at the facility. Sewell, who works with vulnerable adults herself, said she is “very angry” that the manager is still employed.

“If any caregivers were to treat one of my clients like this, they would immediately be put under investigation and removed from the situation,” she said.

“I don’t know why that is not happening. I don’t know why there isn’t any repercussion.”

Sewell is actively trying to move her grandmother out of the facility, but due to issues with power of attorney, she’s stuck in a legal limbo, all while her grandmother is still residing at the facility.

“My biggest fear is retaliation,” she said, “and I cannot get my grandma out, so I don’t know if me calling there would kind of stir the pot, if you know what I’m saying.”

In a statement, Ironwood Gardens board member Al Shurupka said at the time of the original incident, a manager of the facility notified the family guardian about what happened.

“He has been kept fully informed regarding his mother’s care at all times. He later emailed our manager expressing his full confidence in the care his mother receives at the Gardens,” Shurupka wrote.

“All resident families were informed of the event and of the subsequent review.”

Suspended without cause

CTV News confirmed the audio recording with the original author on March 16, whose identity was protected due to fear of reprisal. For the anonymous source, the fear became reality.

“The morning of the first story … when you’ve got a hold of Stu (Iverson) or trying to get a hold of him—he assumed it was me who went to the news and automatically suspended me and without cause,” the author told CTV News on Tuesday.

When the anonymous source followed up with Ironwood’s board president, Iverson, asking what the reason was via email, they got an unexpected answer.

“The reason I got why I was suspended last week was because they thought I was not going to show up for my shift the following day,” the source said.

The source said they asked if the audio recording was the cause of their suspension, but the board said it wasn’t.

“They told me that my suspension has nothing to do with any of it and that they just assumed that I wasn’t going to show up for my shifts, which doesn’t make sense because they cancelled my previous two weeks of shifts after I recorded the event and went to the RCMP.”

Shurupka said the board is limited in what they can disclose regarding residents and staff, but said a “now-former employee” reported the incident and shared the audio recording with media and posted commentary on social media.

“A committee of four board members reviewed the incident and the actions of staff involved,” he wrote. “The committee then referred its findings to the full Ironwood Board. After reviewing the report, the board decided—based on the committee’s recommendation—to dismiss one staff member.”

Shurupka also claimed the staff member’s claim of being suspended is incorrect.

“The staff member in question was not suspended by the Board; she went on a medical leave of absence and only recently confirmed that status with us. We are taking no action while she is on leave,” he wrote.

‘Something needs to be done’

Both Sewell and the anonymous source are calling for legislated protection.

“Just because it’s a private facility doesn’t mean that they can treat people anyway they want to,” Sewell said. “I’m tired of hitting walls. I’m tired of just imagining her there—getting yelled at like that.”

In addition, the anonymous source is also advocating for whistleblower protection for employees at private facilities.

“Currently, there is no protection for not only the residents, but for employees who do go through what (Josephine and I) are going through because they are not registered with federal or provincial government,” the source said.

“Even though it is a private care home, they still need to have the same safety guidelines, rules and regulations as everybody else in the province does.”

Health, seniors and long-term care minister Uzoma Asagwara said the incident is being investigated.

“These allegations are deeply concerning. The safety of Manitobans is our top priority, and families deserve to know that their loved ones are safe, treated with dignity and receiving quality care,” Asagwara said in a statement.

“The RCMP are currently investigating these allegations. I have also referred this issue to the Seniors’ Advocate, and they have agreed to look into this matter.”