Son 'sickened' by no charges in nursing-home abuse case

A manhas expressedshock after learning that staff at a long-term-care facility in Peterborough, Ont.,will not face charges despite video showing them manhandling his mother and shoving a soiled cloth into her face.

• Hidden camera catches abuse at Ontario seniors facility

"I'm puzzled," Camille Parent told CBC News. "I'm sickened over this. It's just totally wrong."

Police have told Parent that no charges will be laid against staff at St. Joseph's at Fleming nursing home,where 85-year-old Hellen MacDonald is a resident.

Aninvestigation began earlier this yearafter Parent noticed scratches and bruises on his mother, whohas dementia. He complained to management, but continued to see injuries and placed a hidden camera in her room.

Over four days, the camera captured disturbingimages of his mother being mistreated by staff, including:

• Herbeing manhandled while MacDonald gets her diaper changed.
• An employee shovinga soiled cloth into her face.
• A pair of St. Josephs employees making out in MacDonalds room as she lies in bed.
• An employee blowing his nose on her bed sheets.

The hidden camera also caught another resident wandering into MacDonalds room and going through her belongings.

'Why are we protecting the abusers?'

Four employees have since been fired, and a subsequent investigation by the Ministry of Health found several violations of the Long Term Care Act at the home.

Parent, however,says he wants to see charges laid.

"Why are we not protecting our folks in long-term care," he told CBC News. "Why are we protecting the abusers?"

Police have failed togive Parent any reasons for their decision, buthe has been invited to a meeting on Friday with the Crown attorney.

Parent says if charges cant be laid under the current laws, hell argue for tougher legislation to preventsimilar abuse.

Healsois not ruling out the possibility of asking another police force to conduct an independent investigation.