Written By David Gomez
STRATHROY - A Ministry of Long-Term Care inspection triggered by a staff abuse investigation has prompted Strathmere Lodge to retrain all employees and implement a series of corrective measures aimed at strengthening resident protection and regulatory compliance.
The inspection findings were presented to Middlesex County council on June 16 by Strathmere Lodge Administrator Brent Kerwin. He explained that the Ministry review stemmed from a March incident in which a staff member was terminated following findings of verbal and emotional abuse involving residents on the lodge’s secure unit.
According to Kerwin, the lodge reported the incident to the Ministry through a critical incident report, leading to an on-site inspection in April. During that review, inspectors concluded there had been earlier situations involving the same employee that “should have been recognized and reported as abuse, but were not.”
As a result, Ministry inspectors determined that staff understanding of what constitutes abuse, along with their legal obligation to report suspected or witnessed abuse, required improvement. The inspection resulted in multiple compliance findings and orders requiring additional staff education.
“The lodge takes the ministry orders with the utmost seriousness,” Kerwin told council. He said an action plan was developed immediately and that staff training was expanded beyond what the Ministry required.
“The ministry ordered us to do training with specific groups. We took it one step further, and we decided to educate all 260-lodge staff,” he said. “I think there is a heightened awareness now.”
Councillor Colin Grantham asked whether similar situations had occurred previously. Kerwin responded that reports involving alleged or witnessed abuse are not uncommon in long-term care settings and noted that homes are required to report such incidents to the Ministry. He estimated that Strathmere Lodge has submitted roughly three abuse-related reports annually in recent years, including resident-to-resident incidents.
Councillor Allan Mayhew asked about the use of alarms designed to alert staff when residents attempt to stand or leave wheelchairs unsafely. Kerwin said the lodge has invested significantly in such technology, including alarms for wheelchairs and beds. “We are very proactive,” he said, adding that the facility compares favourably with provincial averages for falls.
Warden Susan Clarke described the inspection report as difficult to read, noting that long-term care residents are among the community’s most vulnerable people.
Kerwin said Ministry inspectors are expected to visit the lodge again in the near future to review the effectiveness of the action plan developed in response to the compliance orders. The lodge hopes the measures already implemented—including expanded staff training and enhanced oversight—will satisfy the Ministry’s requirements and lead to the resolution of the outstanding orders.
