How did This Advocacy Seeking Safety in Long-Term-Care Start?

 

As a caregiver advocate, I experienced a strong adverse reaction to the investigation of resident-to-resident assault in long-term-care homes which aired on February 9, 2013

W5 Documentary, Crisis in Care  

 

I know that the family members of individuals residing or waiting for a bed in long-term-care homes find it difficult enough without viewing graphic dramatizations and horrific accusations made against these long-term-care homes.

 

Based on my social work experience, I thought the investigators in the W5 documentary also were misleading the public, disregarding the challenges and hard work that goes into the running of these long-term-care homes.

 

In order to offer my professional view, I began to draft a response document to send out to W5 and others who could initiate change regarding this issue.. I approached Angela Gentile from Manitoba and Victoria Brewster from Quebec, fellow members of the LinkedIn group, Gerontology Professionals of Canada about this project.

 

They willingly made contributions and a team was formed, creating the advocacy site actionforsafety.blogspot.ca to follow the cause. The completed Response Document was sent out to W5, the Alzheimer Society of Canada, and provincial health ministers........

 

 

After the Documentary, Crisis in Care aired and the Response was sent, their 2nd September 27, 2013 W5 - Deadly Care (Homicide in Care Homes) This W5 investigation was again about resident-to-resident killing in long-term-care homes, with special focus on a 2011 Winnipeg case, following up with the victim’s family, the fate for the perpetrator and speaks with the perpetrator’s family. The issue we made for seeking solutions in our response to the last documentary appeared to be heard in that better options for care were explored.