111 Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers Health workers say Sask. system failing to protect elders, vulnerable adults from neglect and abuse continued authority to hold hearings to review a substitute decision maker's compliance with the rules. Dr. Thorpe said Saskatchewan needs a similar system with an independent board—a systempurpose-built to handle these types of situations. The Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee in Saskatchewan said any interested party, including the Public Trustee, can apply to the Court of Queen's Bench for a new decision maker to be appointed for the patient. CBC requested an interview with the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT) but received a written statement. "Typically, another family member or the health authority are in the best position to bring such a Court application as they have the necessary medical information and/or knowledge of the person's wishes," said the statement. "The Public Guardian and Trustee could also bring such an application under Section 22 of the Act and may request to be appointed as personal guardian under The Adult Guardianship and Co-decision-making Act with authority to make the health care decision." Dr. Thorpe said PGT staff told her that although they would like to assist, they do not have the resources to handle nonfinancial cases. She said SHA is reluctant to take these matters to court because the process can take years. "Then if one was to override it, who then looks after that person?" said Dr. Thorpe. Saskatchewan legislation does allow two health care workers to take over guardianship in cases where there is no next of kin. Dr. Thorpe said the need for change is becoming more urgent as more people receive care at home rather than in facilities. She pointed to the closure of the Valley View Centre for people with intellectual disabilities in Moose Jaw, Sask. The province said 36 new group homes were opened to house former residents of the home. Dr. Thorpe said an increasing number of people are choosing not to have children, adding that dealing with these situations can be more complicated in rural areas. The 2018 report recommends a new system to facilitate further evaluation of complaints and advocacy for changes to the legislation. Elliot Paus-Jensen, a former geriatric social worker and a volunteer for the Saskatoon Council on Aging, was part of an elder abuse task force formed in 2005. She said the PGT told her office at the time they did not have the resources to take action in non-financial cases. Paus-Jensen said she personally witnessed a case of elder neglect. A mother who had been looking after her son, who suffered a brain injury, became unable to care for herself when she developed dementia. The son in turn became the mother's carer. "He would give her his [benzodiazepines] and he didn't understand — it calmed him down, why wouldn't it calm her down?" Paus-Jensen said. "He did other things that really put her at risk and she at one point almost died." Fortunately the woman had a medical assessment and health workers were able to intervene. Incidents not being tracked Paus-Jensen said there is no way of knowing how many cases of abuse or neglect are occurring under these circumstances because it is not being tracked. "One of the big things in abuse is isolation, physical isolation, social isolation," she said. "So we don't know that it's happening and it's only found out if somebody is in really bad shape and they end up in emergency or somehow come to the attention of someone." Paus-Jensen pointed to the case of New Brunswick woman Kathleen Grant, whose 45-year-old daughter was convicted of failing without lawful excuse to provide the necessaries of life. Dr. Lilian Thorpe says the system is failing to protect vulnerable adults in Saskatchewan. (Matthew Garand/CBC News) continued
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