Ruth Beaton, 101 years old, Glace Bay.

My Story - Click Here For Web Site & Audio Clips

How the following event, with Long Term Care, influenced a retired 80 year old son to become an advocate for those who don’t have a voice.

The event that follows is just one of many situations happening with our Long Term Care that requires remediation and awareness in our LTC system.

No blame or denigration of the wonderful workers can be found. The wisdom and care and compassion of the administration can, and should be faulted.

The following is one son’s attempt to remedy a horrible situation that encompasses the daily life of many residents, workers, and visitors, to a senior’s home in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia.

SEAVIEW MANOR, GLACE BAY, NOVA SCOTIA

MY WIFE BETTY, AND I WENT TO GLACE BAY TO VISIT MOM RUTH BEATON :

We arrived at 12 noon and found mom in bed, we also were vividly aware of xxxxxxxxx screaming, sitting in a wheelchair in her room entrance. approx 20 feet away from mother and any visitors. -- and other residents -- and the workers who passed her doorway.

We are continually being told that the noise is absolutely crazy in that area of Seaview Manor. Is this what Seaview Manor means when they advertise that this is “Home for Special Care” ?? (check out the LINKS page)


The sounds coming from this woman continuously screaming were unbearable to myself and my wife and we asked that maybe her door could be closed. We were kindly informed by a nurse that this was not allowed. After awhile, workers came to xxxxxxx’s room and put her to bed. The screaming stopped ! Mother was lethargic and continuously nodded off for most of three hours we were with her. 

In our mother’s dying days with her already having lost much dignity ``` is it necessary for her to be in an area where some residents are screaming on a continual basis ? My mother is 101 years of age -- on her last days of a life well lived -- she suffers from macular degeneration and is legally blind. Over the years my mother and my father practiced excellent health measures ( father 88 and mother 101) Neither parent had taken prescription drugs and both parents followed essentially a diabetic, or mediterranean diet and lifestyle. As an aside, Ruth was a 25 year Volunteer at Seaview Manor, helping seniors, like herself !

Ruth in her lifetime has Never been a burden to the Health Care System, and/or especially to Seaview Manor. Several years ago my mother was placed in a single room, in the lower floor of Seaview Manor. She was well looked after, treated like a Queen, and was content with her lot in life having lost all her siblings, most of her friends, all activities she ever did, her eyesight, and her ability to walk without assistance. From each and every visit to her room, and to Seaview Manor, my wife, my sister, and I felt good in the fact that things were going as one would anticipate, in our world of a broken health care system, broken dreams, and broken promises. We were isolated in the fact that our mom was where we wanted her to be at this stage of life, and that everything was going in the direction that we would want ourselves to go when the time came to consider our last stages of life. 

On the week of January 20 -2019 we got word that our mom had fallen and she had a hip fracture which necessitated a surgical intervention to help repair her hip. After a month of treatment she was sent back to her room, in good spirits, and she very contently settled into her old room and routine. Note :: It is a statistic that when a senior has , as in my mother’s case, a hip fracture, that her chance for a good future is decreased greatly and chances of an early death are limited to one year or less. 

Because my mother required extra care in that she became more and more bedridden, she needed to be re-positioned every two hours or so while in her bed, she was moved from her beautiful room to the top floor of the Manor, where they had adequate staff.(????) She was moved to the area she now lives, to a room that is adjacent to a poor soul who screams incessantly which is extremely disturbing to anyone who is sitting within a 20 foot distance. Not only is there this particular disturbance but also the outbursts of several other residents who spontaneously need to vent their feelings.

Neither my mother, nor her son and daughter in law were prepared for this change in my mother’s care. Having talked with several of the staff it is determined that there is absolutely no way that under the rules and regulations of the Manor can anything be done to alleviate this situation. I am told that hypnotic or mild sedative drugs can be administered by mouth, under physician’s order, but if the patient does not comply by refusing or spitting out the medication or when SC or IM injection is not permitted then the disturbance continues. The closing of a door leading to a patients room is also not an option, of course, to allow the observance of any attendant to view the room of a patient if they are in the area. 

It must be stressed that there is absolutely no reflection on the most wonderful staff at Seaview Manor, and the poor souls who have no control over their actions, but somehow I believe, and will advocate for a better system where someone in my mother’s life’s can die in peace. The health, and enjoyment, and welfare of the other residents along with the working conditions of the workers must be protected.

I have been made acutely aware as of late that neither the residents, or the workers do not have a 'voice'.
I have also been made aware that even some sons and daughters of the residents feel that somehow, the welfare of their loved ones will be in peril.

I am told on at least three occasions, " But what if I complain, and they take it out on my mother " !! What a sad commentary on our Long Term Home Care System!

Signed:
N. Donnell Beaton, PhC. Pharmacist (retired)