2nd senior's death from infected bedsores raises concerns

More allegations are surfacing of seniors getting sub-standard treatment at a long-term care facility in Calgary.

Wyonne Somers, wholived at Mckenzie Towne Long Term Care,died in hospital in Octoberof an infection she developed at the facility.

"By the time she was admitted to the hospital she had wounds the size of baseballs on the bottom of her feet and on the backs of her calves and they were severely infected," said granddaughterBreanne Sinclair.

"They were weeping and they smelled. It was decaying flesh on her living body."

This is the second time in as many days that a family has come forward with concerns about how their loved ones were treated at the southeast Calgary facility operated by Revera, a private firm based in Ontario.

Earlier this week it was revealed that 73-year-old Violet MacDonald,another resident of the Revera facility in McKenzie Towne, died from untreated bedsores that spread to her bones.

• Calgary senior's untreated bedsores spread to her bones

Dean Somers said it wasn't until his mother had been taken to hospital that he realized how sick she was. Doctors told him his mother could not be saved, and she died a short time later ofsepsis.

Died with 'excruciating pain'

Her family says the last twoweeks of her life were spent in palliative care at Calgary'sSouth HealthCampusin "excruciating pain."

The way my mother passed away was horrifying. Her legs were decaying. The flesh was decaying, and you cannot allowhumans toendurethat when they're supposed to be cared for and you're paying for this service.

Somers said he doesn't only blame Revera, but says the whole system is flawed and the provincial government has to take more responsibility.

"I don't think any human should be subjected to the trauma that my mother went through, the indignity that she had to suffer and certainly the pain that sheendured during the course of this ailment," he said.

The CEO of Revera flew in to Calgary late last night from the company's headquarters in Mississauga to tour the facility in Mckenzie Towne.The company says it has launched an independent review.

"We need to improve our levels of care, that's our constant quest for us at Revera," saidJeff Lozon."On one level, as an individual, you can't help but be concerned if you don't meet the expectations you should meet."

The province haslaunched its own review of the centre, and Alberta Health Services says it has a skin and wound specialist at the facilityreviewing all wound treatment protocols. An audit team will go over every resident'schart to ensure their care meets provincial standards.

"We've put the appropriate steps in place to check everything out thoroughly one resident at a time," said Alberta Health Minister Fred Horne."That is really the only way to address concerns."