The owner of a Sunderland retirement home plans to appeal the recent revocation of its license.
A legal representative of Dre’s Lodge made that announcement in a letter sent to The Brock Voice on July 28, claiming inspection reports by the Retirement Home Regulatory Authority amounted to “unsubstantiated defamatory comments and false accusations.”
The letter from Walker Law also asked for the retraction of a story written about the revocation of the licence as well as a post from the Township of Brock related to the facility (see links below). Both of those requests were denied.
Phil Norris, the manager of communications for the RHRA, did not respond directly to the claims made in the letter, saying only that inspection reports and orders issued to date by the organization are “self explanatory.”
The RHRA is an independent, self-funded, not-for-profit regulator mandated by the provincial government to protect and ensure the safety and well-being of seniors living in Ontario’s retirement homes.
According to an order issued by the organization on July 20, those running Dre’s Lodge are “not competent to operate the home in a responsible manner” in accordance with provincial regulations and municipal bylaws.
It also notes that the past conduct of the licensee does not afford “reasonable grounds” to believe the home will be operated with “honesty and integrity” and in a manner that would not be “prejudicial to the health safety and welfare of the residents.”
“The revocation is effective six months after the date of issue unless that date is extended,” the order reads.
Licensees have the right to appeal any order made by the RHRA to the Licence Appeal Tribunal.
“The appeal process runs like a hearing, involving the calling of evidence before an independent adjudicator,” Norris noted.
Dre’s Lodge was cited for numerous infractions throughout 2020. They included:
– Receiving a complaint about sexual abuse and providing no evidence of an investigation (inspection date Dec. 21);
– Failing to provide a resident with appropriate assistance to determine why they were not eating and refusing medications. This resulted in harm to the resident, according to a report (Dec. 15);
– Not documenting an investigation following alleged abuse of a resident (Sept. 28);
– Concerns about resident neglect involving living conditions that did not meet “acceptable standards” regarding cleanliness and general repair (June 25); and,
– Numerous instances of failing to comply with provincial directives surrounding COVID-19 including the screening of residents and staff and the lack of an established visitor policy. On one occasion, the inspector from the RHRA was not screened upon entry and two staff members working in the home were not wearing masks, according to a report.
Other issues of non-compliance were reportedly uncovered during inspections in January and February of 2021, not finalized until April, mostly related to the development of appropriate care plans for residents.
An inspection in June noted that the licensee failed to ensure that residents were being provided a snack during the day, as well as several issues related to the administration of drugs at the facility.
“The licensee failed to record medications had been administered. Further, there was no written evidence that medications had been prescribed. Medications were not secured as prescribed. The licensee was unable to demonstrate that a staff member administering medications has been trained as prescribed,” the inspection report reads.
Brock Township releases statement about Dre’s Lodge in Sunderland
