A health service standards audit of Points West Living in Cold Lake has identified noncompliances under 37 categories—the same 37 that were reported in July.
In a report following its July 15 audit, the Continuing Care Licensing Office (CCLO) reported 37 shortcomings and gave the facility until October 29 to rectify them. The new report, posted on the Alberta Health standards and licensing website November 7, indicates that none of the issues identified in July has been rectified.
Nine of the 37 noncompliances are under the category of care planning, and six more are under standards in restraint management. Staff training and quality improvement reporting account for four each.
Three of the noncompliances are under oral care and bathing frequency, and two are for safe bath/shower water temperatures.
Other noncompliant standards are under risk management, infection prevention and control, medication management, life enrichment services, and concerns resolution.
Continuing care facilities are monitored for their adherence to two sets of standards: health service standards and accommodation standards.
The high number of noncompliances found at Points West is not typical for continuing care facilities in the province for either set of standards.
In Respect’s publishing area, the Alberta Health website shows that Extendicare in St. Paul had three noncompliant accommodation standards identified in May, all of which were rectified by July 15. Points West Living Cold Lake’s continuing care facility had five accommodation standards noncompliances found in an April 25 inspection. These were all rectified by August 1.
In addition to its continuing care residence, Points West Living Cold Lake operates supportive living accommodation. According to the Alberta Health website, the supportive living unit has two outstanding noncompliances dating to December 2023: one regarding nutritional requirements and the other regarding building safety.
Both of these arose from a complaint investigation, and are separate from the continuing care health service standards audit.
The website does not report any other noncompliant facilities in Cold Lake, Bonnyville, or St. Paul.
None of the other Points West facilities in Alberta—Vegreville, Stettler, Wainwright, Peace River, or Lloydminster—has outstanding issues reported on the Alberta Health website, either for health service or accommodation standards.
A spokesperson for Points West Living declined to comment on the health service audit, pending receipt of further information from Alberta Health regarding evidence they have submitted for compliance. She indicated the company would be open to an interview after they receive that response.
Points West Living drew the attention of Cold Lake city council in August, when an elevator failure left many residents unable to leave the second floor of the building or go outside for two weeks.
Points West’s Resident Family Council wrote to the city asking for support in improving accessibility for residents with mobility difficulties.
While the company was not responsible for the elevator outage or for the delay in getting it repaired, mayor Craig Copeland wrote to MLA Scott Cyr and to Points West’s chief operating officer calling for the access problems to be examined.
CCLO audit results are available at standardsandlicensing.alberta.ca.
This is unacceptable, not one of the compliances has been rectified. How do they get away with it. It is truly heartbreaking to hear about the challenges seniors are facing in this and other care facilities, particularly the issues stemming from short staffing, the lack of adequate staff has often lead to neglect, where residents are left waiting for assistance for unacceptable amounts of time. This is not only physically detrimental, but emotionally and mentally taxing as well, as it creates feelings of isolation and frustration.
When staff members are stretched too thin, the quality of care inevitably suffers. It’s troubling that the expectations placed on health care aides extend beyond their care duties, forcing them to handle tasks like laundry and cleaning that detract from their ability to focus on resident well-being. The “Eden Care Model,” which emphasizes personalized care and autonomy for residents, seems to be in direct contrast with the current demands placed on staff. We are tired of being told “we are not short staffed”, anyone can physically see that the facility is not meeting the requirements of AHS with the staffing ration, you just have to walk through the facility, listen to the residents and how long they are waiting to get assistance. Sometimes as long as 3 hours.
Well it seems there is no follow up or consequences to P.W.L. Coldlake.
Families with loved ones staying there,need to get together. One voice they ignore, a lot of voices may get some action finally. Time to skip the red tape dance of writing MLA’s and Minister of Health.
My brother lives in this facility and I’m am constantly putting in complaints about many different things