Mouse Found Nibbling on Patients Face In Care Facility

This upset me so much, the poor person.

Published Monday, September 9, 2013 9:46AM EDT
Last Updated Monday, September 9, 2013 8:15PM EDT
LETHBRIDGE, Alta. -- A health-care advocacy group says a dementia patient at a long-term care home in southern Alberta is recovering after a staff member found mice nibbling at her face.
Friends of Medicare says it happened at St. Therese Villa in Lethbridge on Sept. 1.
"We found out that last Sunday ... one of the staff of that facility walked into this resident's room and found mice nibbling on her face," said Sandra Azocar, executive director of Friends of Medicare.
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http://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1...._225/image.jpg

St. Therese Villa, the long-term care home, is seen in this undated photo in Lethbridge, Alberta.



"The lady was in fact bitten and now she's been medically treated for that ... I'm completely horrified. I think it's beyond words. I can't imagine being that lady who had this happen to her."
The woman also has disabilities and would not have been able to move the mice off her face, Azocar said.
"She's doing OK. Emotionally it impacted her and she's on medication to prevent infection."
Azocar said a nest of mice was found in the woman's closet.
Staff at the 200-bed facility operated by Covenant Health first complained about mice about a year ago, Azocar said. She added the care centre, built in 2008, also has had a bedbug infestation for about nine months.
No one at Covenant Health or St. Therese could be reached for comment.
"It's obvious the situation hasn't been dealt with the urgency it requires. Even though staff have tried to deal with it, there's no overall plan to deal with these health hazards in a more urgent manner," Azocar said.
"This is so unbelievable that this would be happening in Canada's richest province, that our seniors are having to live under these conditions.
"There is no excuse for this to be happening in Alberta. Absolutely none."

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I heard this the other day and was horrified. Both of my parents spent time in nursing homes in their later years, and that's where they passed away. I never saw anything as bad as that, but did see my Dad sitting in a chair in wet pants more than once; not sure how long he'd been in that condition, and when I brought it to the attention to the care workers, they were less than enthusiastic about doing anything about it. In my experience anyhow, nursing homes are woefully understaffed. Don't even get me started on how long it takes to just get INTO a nursing home. My mother waited in the hospital for seven months after breaking her hip, her mental capacity diminishing with every passing day.

It is a sad situation for sure, I can't imagine how difficult it must be to have a parent in a home that is less than desirable.I imagine this facility will have a difficult time even finding staff with mice and bedbug infestations. yuk.

Ugh, stories like this just reinforce my dad's stance on staying with us. :(

He refuses to move into a home and won't put my mother there even though she is beyond my capabilities to care for her and needs 24/7 supervision and has had dementia for 15 years and that's the least of her problems.

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Originally Posted by Patty Smyth

Ugh, stories like this just reinforce my dad's stance on staying with us. :(

He refuses to move into a home and won't put my mother there even though she is beyond my capabilities to care for her and needs 24/7 supervision and has had dementia for 15 years and that's the least of her problems.

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Aw Patty you are a great daughter and they are so lucky to have you.It sounds like your plate is beyond full.Are you able to get government funded respite care workers come in to the home to help?

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Originally Posted by thriftygranny

Aw Patty you are a great daughter and they are so lucky to have you.It sounds like your plate is beyond full.Are you able to get government funded respite care workers come in to the home to help?

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I could but my dad does not want anyone in the house :(. It's complicated .

THat sucks Patty..

{{{Hugs to you and DH666 and your kids}}}

Facility says this story is not as first reported, after a review was done by inspectors from both Alberta Health Services and the government’s health department

Yes, a mouse was seen (the facility is next to a field), but no evidence of anything done to the woman by a mouse.
Doctors say her wounds were caused by a viral condition.

http://lethbridgeherald.com/2013/09/...itten-by-mice/


On "As it Happens" last night - Doctor from the facility about the review
at 40:42

http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/podcasts/a...0911_28700.mp3

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Natalka

Facility says this story is not as first reported, after a review was done by inspectors from both Alberta Health Services and the government’s health department

Yes, a mouse was seen (the facility is next to a field), but no evidence of anything done to the woman by a mouse.
Doctors say her wounds were caused by a viral condition.

http://lethbridgeherald.com/2013/09/...itten-by-mice/


On "As it Happens" last night - Doctor from the facility about the review
at 40:42

http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/podcasts/a...0911_28700.mp3

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Looks like a cover up to me, either the health care worker that saw the mouse on her face if lying or Covenant Health care is...mmmm

Absolutely horrifying! Our DD is making modifications to their home and I know it's to accommodate either my husband or I when and if we need to be close to them...thank heavens for daughters. My Mother lived with us for 12 years, but once well into her dementia we had to place her into a facility or I'd never have been able to sleep or leave the house. I was pretty much there anyway, 24/7... I visited every day to help her with lunch and I must say she received very good care, was always clean and seemed happy... Patty, I do honestly know what you're going through, bless your heart...and I know how difficult it can be. I agree with thrifrygranny: cover-up!