Dear BC Ministry of Health and fellow Canadians,

I am writing to bring to your attention a deeply troubling case of elder abuse involving my 77-year-old mother, who has Alzheimer’s disease and has lived in a BC nursing home for the past 10 years. Despite repeated complaints to management since 2017, I have witnessed ongoing neglect and mistreatment by one specific care aide, some of which appeared deliberate and targeted.

Most disturbingly, on June 19, 2025, a gynecologist removed a long, cylindrical object—a purple plastic tampon applicator—from my mother’s vagina. This object had been causing her significant pain, bleeding, and foul, bloody discharge since August 2023, when I first filed an official complaint against the care aide. The nursing home has refused to take responsibility, claiming instead that my mother inserted the object herself.

This explanation is implausible. She is fully incontinent, wears adult diapers, and lacks both the cognitive and physical ability to perform such an action. In her 10 years at this facility, she has never inserted any object into her body—not her nose, ears, anus, or vagina.

This is not an isolated incident. Since December 2023, my mother’s room has been stripped of all personal belongings—family photos, cherished childhood items, and familiar objects—leaving her in a bare room with only a bed. This has caused considerable disorientation and emotional distress, yet the facility again blamed her, despite her long-standing habit of resisting even routine cleaning.

Between December 2024 and February 2025, unexplained bruises appeared all over her body and forehead. The facility attributed these to falls caused by “loss of coordination.” Yet in 10 years at the home, my mother has never had mobility or balance issues. Notably, after I raised these concerns in February 2025, no further bruising occurred.

Following the removal of the tampon applicator, I requested an internal investigation from senior nursing home officials. I was told “too much time had passed” and no investigation would be conducted. I later submitted an eight-page summary of the incidents, but the only responses I received came after contacting other agencies:

• SAIL (Seniors Abuse and Information Line): Declined to assist because my mother resides in a nursing home.
• Fraser Health Community Care Licensing: The officer agreed to review safety concerns only, stating she could not investigate abuse or criminal activity. After three weeks, she reported her investigation was inconclusive. When I requested a written summary, she said she was only authorized to give a verbal report.
• Patient Care Quality Office (PCQO): Staff stated they only forward compliments and complaints and do not investigate.
• RCMP Non-Emergency Line (July 8, 2025): Created a file but refused to act due to “lack of evidence.” No investigation will be conducted.
• MLA: Initially appeared receptive and offered assistance, but ceased all communication after the first contact.

Each agency has cited limitations in jurisdiction or capacity, leaving no path to accountability.

I am reaching out because I am struggling to secure justice for residents like my mother. What happened to her is nothing short of criminal. Yet without cameras in nursing homes, staff can act with impunity, getting away with what can only be described as murder.

Because my mother has Alzheimer’s, every serious concern is dismissed as self-inflicted or a symptom of her condition. This is unacceptable. I know without a doubt she did not insert a foreign object into her body and is not prone to falls. The explanations provided are not credible.

This case highlights a dangerous loophole in our healthcare system—one that enables individuals with malicious intent to exploit vulnerable seniors for personal gain. Without urgent government intervention, many others will continue to suffer in silence.

I implore the Canadian Ministry of Health to take immediate action to address this critical issue. The ability of nursing home staff to abuse residents without consequence must end, and the protection of vulnerable individuals must be a national priority. Closing this accountability gap will save lives.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I am hopeful you will advocate for meaningful change to protect our elderly and prevent further harm.

Sincerely,
DT