Published at 00:31
Updated at 5:00 a.m.
An elderly man with severe loss of autonomy living at the CHSLD Saint-Alexandre in Thetford Mines died after being violently beaten by another resident at the end of June, it has been learned The PressTwo health care workers’ unions in the region say they have been calling for changes to the unit where the tragedy occurred for a year, saying it has too many residents and too many complex cases.
“The tragedy could have been avoided if we had listened to the employees,” says Carole Mercier, president of the Chaudière-Appalaches Health Professionals Union (SPSCA-FIQ).
While making his rounds on June 18 shortly before 11 p.m. in the prosthetic unit of the CHSLD Saint-Alexandre, a beneficiary attendant reportedly realized that a resident was not in his room. The employee allegedly found him in the room of another resident in the unit. When he arrived on site, the attendant reportedly saw this resident savagely beating the first man. “There was blood all over the walls,” says M.me Mercier.
The prosthetics unit of the CHSLD Saint-Alexandre accommodates 27 patients suffering from dementia and cognitive disorders.
It’s very big. Normally, this kind of unit has about a dozen patients.
Carole Mercier, President of SPSCA-FIQ
At the time of the tragedy, only one orderly and one intervention officer were in the unit, according to Karine Hudon, local president of the Syndicat québécois des employées et employées de service (SQEES-FTQ). Which is “really not many,” according to her.
Too many patients and complex cases
Mmes Hudon and Mercier say that for the past year, workers at the CHSLD Saint-Alexandre have been denouncing the excessive size of the prosthetic unit and the fact that cases that are too serious are sometimes placed there.
Mme Hudon adds that in the entire Chaudière-Appalaches territory, two “disruptive disorder units” are intended to accommodate more unpredictable patients. These units are often full, so much so that some residents end up elsewhere, for example in the prosthetic unit of the CHSLD Saint-Alexandre. “We have been denouncing this situation for a year,” says Mme Hudon.
A coroner’s investigation is underway to shed light on the events. Sûreté du Québec spokesperson Marithé Bolduc confirms that an investigation is also underway on the police side to “determine the causes and circumstances of the death of a man” at the CHSLD Saint-Alexandre.
The Integrated Health and Social Services Centre (CISSS) of Chaudière-Appalaches did not want to comment in detail on the situation for reasons of confidentiality of files. However, spokesperson Jessica Poiré confirmed by email that the establishment is well aware of “the space issues” in the prosthetic unit of the CHSLD Saint-Alexandre and that it “must indeed be reviewed in order to reduce the number of residents to a smaller number.”
“Physical redevelopment” procedures have been underway since January 2024 and “should take a few more months”. “The objective of this work is to create two 12-bed units in separate spaces,” says Mr.me Poiré. Work was also carried out in the “disruptive disorders unit” of the CHSLD Saint-Alexandre.
With the aging of the population and the insufficient number of places in CHSLDs, wandering residents represent an increasingly significant portion of our residents, which means that we must reassess the number of beds available for this clientele.
Jessica Poiré, spokesperson for the CISSS of Chaudière-Appalaches
“Also, advances Mme Poiré, we need to think about our units in such a way as to separate, for example, residents who wander invasively from those who exhibit more territorial behavior.
“Of infinite sadness”
Mme Mercier regrets that it took too long to make changes to the prosthetic unit. “Dying of pneumonia is one thing. But dying beaten up without being able to call for help is infinitely sad,” she says.
In addition, another CHSLD resident, aged 88, died after being pushed by a roommate in the last year, the newspaper revealed. The DailyFriday. The events occurred in February at the CHSLD in Bagotville.
In a report published on June 6, coroner Monique Tremblay wrote that the resident who attacked him “was well built, strong on his feet and quick in his movements. Staff noted that this resident was unpredictable, his attitude and mood could change quickly. It even seems that the CHSLD employees were afraid of this resident and had reported his violent behaviour.”
The coroner recommended that the CIUSSS du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean “implement additional intervention measures to ensure the safety of vulnerable people who live with people with cognitive loss and a history of violence and aggression.”
