Island Health has appointed an administrator to oversee the management of day-to-day affairs at Selkirk Seniors Village in Victoria.
According to a statement from the Island Health Board, this move was deemed necessary after a report and recommendations made by South Island Medical Health Officer Dr. Murray Fyfe.
See also: Island Health will be providing temporary staff to Victoria and Nanaimo care facilities
This report was based on Dr. Fyfe’s findings after numerous routine and complaint-based licensing inspections of the privately owned 217-bed long-term care home.
It found that the operator of Selkirk Place, Pacific Reach Seniors Housing Management (operating as West Coast Seniors Housing Management), failed to submit an acceptable health and safety plan.
The report also noted concerns about insufficient staffing and lack of overall cleanliness, and found that the operator was too slow in fulfilling compliance with legislated standards of care.
“The thorough investigation by the independent Licensing program has given Island Health detailed insight into the operator’s failures at this site,” said Mark Blandford, Executive Director – Primary Care and Seniors Health, in a statement.
“Island Health will work with the administrator and operator to understand and correct the causes of these issues and develop sustainable plans to return the care delivered to legislated and contracted standards.”
The appointed administrator, Susan Abermann, will be responsible for the operation and management of the care home for a period of 6 months starting December 12th.
Abermann was also previously appointed to similar administrator roles at Comox Valley Seniors Village and Nanaimo Seniors Village, where she will continue to work as well.
Her management will be supported by full time on-site managers at all three locations.
Island Health began providing temporary employees to Selkirk Place and Nanaimo Seniors’ Village back in October 2019, to address concerns about the quality of care at both facilities.
The health authority publicly funds 185 of the beds at Selkirk Place.
