Island Health says it’s taking the “extraordinary action” of appointing an administrator to a long-term care home in Victoria because it’s failing to meet provincial standards of care.
The health authority says the operator of the Victoria Chinatown Care Centre was failing in several crucial aspects of facility operation, including a lack of an appropriate care plan for residents and staff not demonstrating the skills or abilities to carry out their duties.
Island Health adds that equipment was not kept in good repair, there was a failure to meet the needs of a person in care, and that actions may have diminished the sense of dignity of a person in care.
There was also a high turnover among the facility’s leadership team, Island Health notes.
The assessment comes after Island Health launched several complaint-based licensing inspections of the facility, including a detailed review that occurred in August and September.
“Providing high quality, safe, dignified care for seniors in our publicly funded long-term care facilities is a key Island Health priority,” said Leah Hollins, Island Health board chair, in a release Wednesday.
“Due to the operator’s inability to meet the care expectations outlined in legislation, the Board of Directors has taken the extraordinary action to appoint an administrator to manage the facility,” she said.
Derek Haynes has been appointed the administrator of the care home for the next six months, starting Sept. 20.
He will report to Island Health’s board of directors and help set up a comprehensive daily operations and management plan for the care home, including care planning, staff recruitment and orientation, the development of audit tools and making sure the facility complies with provincial standards of care.
Haynes has eight years of experience working in the long-term care and assisted living field, and was recently the manager of Glengarry Hospital in Victoria, according to Island Health.
The Victoria Chinatown Care Centre is a non-profit facility that hosts 31 beds and is operated by a volunteer board of directors. All beds are publicly funded through Island Health.
In 2019, Island Health had to take similar measures, appointing a temporary administrator for the Nanaimo Seniors Village and Comox Valley Seniors Village.
Adam Chan
