Island Health has once again temporarily appointed an administrator to oversee a seniors’ care centre due to the operator not meeting management expectations.
The health authority’s board of directors has named Susan Abermann as an administrator of Victoria’s Selkirk Seniors Village, for a period of six months.
Island Health also appointed Abermann to the same role at the Comox Valley Seniors Village at the end of September and at Nanaimo Seniors Village on Nov. 27.
The board’s decision, according to Island Health, was based on the recommendation of South Island Medical Health Officer Dr. Murray Fyfe.
In a report from Island Health’s Community Care Facilities Licensing program, Dr. Fyfe determined “the operator was not taking sufficient steps to correct areas of non-compliance and ensure the health and safety of residents.”
Other concerns included the operator’s inability to submit a proper health and safety plan, staffing shortages, lack of cleanliness and the operator moving too slowly towards full compliance with legislated standards of care.
Selkirk Seniors Village is a privately owned long-term care home operated by Pacific Reach Seniors Housing Management, part of the Retirement Concepts group of companies.
Retirement Concepts also ran the homes in Comox and Nanaimo before Island Health stepped in with the temporary administrator appointment, a role Abermann will continue to hold in all those locations.
Island Health says the administrator is responsible for the operation and management of the care home, with key functions such as:
- Staff recruitment and retention strategies
- Mentoring to support training and education of staff
- Oversight to ensure appropriate care plans for residents
- Support in the creation of effective and achievable health and safety plans
- Ensuring compliance with legislated standards of care
“Island Health has a responsibility to ensure seniors living in long-term care homes are receiving safe and dignified care,” Island Health Board Chair Leah Hollins said in a statement.
“That is why the Board of Directors has taken action, appointing an administrator at Selkirk Seniors Village to ensure this operator brings the level of care up to legislated standards.”
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