Grits say province failing seniors

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Grits say province failing seniors

Canoe.ca - Canada

By BROOKES MERRITT, SUN MEDIA

http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/2007/04/25/4128161-sun.html

Alberta Liberals say a mouldy, fire-plagued long-term care facility

is proof the province is failing seniors.

In documents provided to the Liberals yesterday, Dennis Malayko, of

the Alberta Union of Public Employees, outlined a series of

complaints regarding the Good Samaritan Pembina Village continuing

care facility in burg, dating back to 2004.

Among the list of hazards to residents and staff, Malayko lists

mould and mushroom growth, unsafe outdoor walkways and confined

emergency escape routes.

" The place also has a history of electrical fires caused by a faulty

panel that's never been upgraded, " Malayko said.

The facility has 70 beds, and employs about the same number of AUPE

members.

Over the years he has lodged several complaints with Occupational

Health and Safety officials and Good Samaritan administrators.

In 2004 a provincially appointed Health Facilities Review Committee

report documented several safety issues, but Malayko says nothing

was done.

Frustrated, he brought his concerns to Liberal health critic Laurie

Blakeman.

Blakeman said the province's failure to act on the recommendations

of its own review casts doubt on the committee's effectiveness.

According to Blakeman, the committee has an annual budget of nearly

$1 million.

They filed a second report about conditions at Good Samaritan in the

fall of 2006, but it has not yet been released.

" Dennis assures me nothing has changed there, " Blakeman said. " This

is another example of the province failing seniors and those who

help look after them. "

" This facility has serious occupational health and safety issues --

like workers having to go into confined crawlspaces wearing

respirators because of mould -- and safety issues for its residents,

like the constant threat of electrical fires. "

A spokesman Alberta Health could not be reached for comment.

A spokesman for the facility couldn't be reached.

burg is 100 km west of Edmonton.