National counsel says nursing home security is a ‘balancing act’ amid St. John sex-crimes investigation

Protecting nursing home residents from sexual abuse is an important but challenging issue, the head of a national senior citizen advocacy organization says.

CanEdge CEO Laura Tamblyn Watts was responding to the St. John’s Police investigation Alleged sex crimes at The Village at Loch Lomond Villas It involves at least a dozen victims, some of whom are over 90 years old.

Long-term care homes typically have a variety of security measures in place, including video cameras, she said.

But it’s a “balancing act”.

“Long-term care homes are people’s homes, right? So they shouldn’t be monitored every minute of every day. …Residents are entitled to their privacy.”

Houses are also part of the community. “People should be coming in and out and can come,” said Tamblyn Watts, who lives in Toronto, including relatives and other visitors, volunteers and sometimes people providing services like entertainment.

“We want a vibrant environment in long-term care,” he said.

The problem is that while staff and volunteers often undergo “substantial scrutiny”, others do not.

“And because of the high degree of dependency among people who live in long-term care, often with cognitive impairment, if sexual crimes are occurring … it is very difficult for victims to say anything,” she said.

The suspect is ‘associated’ with the house

The St. John’s police force announced an investigation on January 23 after being alerted by staff at a 100-bed nursing home in the eastern part of the city two days earlier.

The Family Protection Unit has so far identified “more than a dozen” victims, all aged between 70 and 90, Staff Sgt. Shawna Fowler said.

Police also have identified a suspect, Fowler said. This is not an employee or resident, but someone who is “associated” with the home.

Loch Lomond Villas CEO Ashley King has declined an interview with CBC News, citing the ongoing police investigation. But in an emailed statement he said affected families had been informed and additional safety measures, including on-site security, had been implemented.

Richard Losier, CEO of the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes, also declined to discuss safety at Villa — or any long-term care home in the province.

“The association understands that Loch Lomond Villas is taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of its residents, families and staff and is cooperating fully with law enforcement,” Losier said in an email.

“Given the ongoing police investigation, the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes will not provide comment or participate in interviews related to this matter, including any broader discussion of safety practices,” he said.

The Department of Social Development, which oversees long-term care, did not immediately respond to questions about safety requirements.

Security breaches can happen ‘very easily’

According to Tamblyn Watts, nursing homes are often older buildings and cannot make full use of modern technology for increased safety.

However, despite the measures, some violations“It could happen very easily,” he said.

It could be as simple as someone holding a closed door open for someone else, he said, as is sometimes the case in security apartment buildings.

Additionally, while criminal record checks may be required for staff, contract workers or volunteers dealing with vulnerable seniors, any red flags may be missed if they are from another province, it said. Tamblyn Watts.

lack of staff“ES is also always an issue,” he said.

“So the more eyes the better. The more people you have in your home with connections, a sailor, a lawyer, a family member, someone who travels there, generally the safer that person is.”

Sexual abuse ‘quite rare’

According to Tamblyn Watts, sexual crimes in long-term care homes are “fairly rare”.

“Families should not worry that this is happening on a regular basis. This is an uncommon occurrence.”

are sexual crimes These are the least common types of abuse that occur in long-term care, she said, and when they do occur, they involve sexual touching or forced exhibitionism.

Having said that, the more vulnerable a person is, the more likely they are to be exploited. Therefore, any senior person who reports sexual abuse needs to be taken seriously, she stressed.

He said, “If you see someone saying, ‘They touched me,’ or that they’re really uncomfortable with someone, believe them. Don’t dismiss them saying it’s just cognitive impairment or weakness or paranoia.”

“Regard it for what it really is, which is an expression of concern, and make sure you follow it up.”

counseling is important

It’s also important for elderly victims to get appropriate counseling, Tamblyn Watts said.

A common misconception, she said, is that people with dementia or other cognitive impairments won’t remember if they’ve been sexually abused.

“The evidence shows it’s in the body as much as it is in the mind and so while you can’t remember the moment — and that might be the case when someone has ingested a date rape drug or some other type of mind-altering assault — we know they will have physical reactions and emotional reactions,” she said.

“So we need to keep an eye on not only the people they have identified (as alleged victims at The Village) but also other care home residents or other people who have not yet come forward or have not been able to come forward.”

Some signs to look for, he said, are if people appear scared, run away from a particular person, hesitate or step back.

“These are all very natural ways of resisting any kind of further attack.”

Tamblyn Watts said other residents and family members may also need counseling.

“A lot of times people might want to sweep it under the rug… you know, ‘By the grace of God,’ or ‘It didn’t happen to my mom.’ But undoubtedly, people will feel very unsafe.

“Again, this is a rare example. But it is a deep case, and that means we will need some grief counseling as well as trauma counseling.”

Police have set up a dedicated phone line for the affected families and have asked anyone with information to contact them 506-648-3333 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).