N.S. group home apologizes after locking up autistic man

January 28, 2011

By THE CANADIAN PRESS

Wed, Jan 26 - 3:57 PM

SYDNEY — A Nova Scotia special care home is apologizing after the mother of a

20-year-old autistic man said her son was locked for periods of time over 15

days in a constantly lit room without a bathroom.

The man's confinement at the Braemore Home in Sydney was broken by exercise

periods and meals, but at times he had to urinate in the room when he couldn't

leave to use the bathroom.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees says the incident was reported by a

worker at the home to the Department of Community Services, which determined the

case constituted institutional abuse under the Protection for Persons in Care

Act.

Debra MacPherson, the home's chief executive, says in a news release that the

facility is ``very sorry that an incident took place.''

The facility says it wants to reassure its 134 residents, families and the

public that ``steps are being taken to ensure the incident isn't repeated.''

The union says its members are receiving ``virtually no training'' on how to

deal with clients with autism and other special needs.

But MacPherson says the home is ``working hard'' to provide training for clients

who have ``complex care needs.''

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