Peace Arch Hospital Foundation Lodge

If I could, I would give 0 stars. My 96 year father-in-law was in another care facility in White Rock. But due to his condition (dementia, almost blind, and no hearing), we knew that sooner or later complex care would be the place he has to be in. So we kept him in his place till we got the call, that there's room at the Peace Arch Lodge, but we have to decide within 24 hrs. Since we knew, complex care is needed, and this place was new, and walking distance from our home, we made the decision to bring him in. The moving day came, we couldn't go with him due to Covid restrictions. On that evening we got an email, that there is a Covid outbreak in this facility. After calling in, they told us, it's on another floor, so dad would be safe, especially since he has to be in quarantine for 2 weeks. After those 2 weeks, someone of the family would be allowed to go in once a week for 30 minutes. So the appointment was on a Saturday. Close to the end of quarantine, we got informed, that there is another Covid outbreak, this time on his floor. We were very concerned because by that time, no vaccination was in. But they promised us to keep him and other residents (not understanding due to Alzheimer/Dementia to stay in their rooms) safe and contained. Suddenly we couldn't get a hold of him over the phone, all we heard was: "he is resting, sleeping, tired, ...". Shortly before x-mas, we got a phone call, asking for permission to vaccinate him in January. The appointment came up, we were calling in to ask how it went, and they told us, he didn't get a vaccination. We had to ask, they wouldn't have told us (a simple email to all family members telling the reason would be good enough). The question "why" was answered with "no idea". At the end, it came out, that the vaccination team wouldn't go in a place where an active outbreak is declared. Excuse me? An active outbreak should be even a bigger reason to get the other residents vaccinated!!! No vaccination, but suddenly they told us, that he would cause some trouble due to his behavior (peeing on the floor the dining room etc.). Still no chance to talk to him on the phone, till the family had enough, telling the staff, that we wanna see dad, no matter how they do it, or whether he sleeps or not. We want to see him. So over Facetime they showed him to us, laying in his bed, only 50% of what he was before. Accidentally they spilled the beans, that he was pretty much sedated 24/7 for 6 weeks, to keep him safe. That was the moment we decided to take him out, and taking care of him private at home, till the situation with Covid has improved. With the care at home, we got him off all drugs (except the sleeping pill, and some of his needed dementia meds). No behavior shown (unless you count confusion due to dementia as behavior). But now it comes: we hired a care aide to come and help in the evening, and he was kinda rude to them, but the worst part was, that he showed defense reaction with his arms as soon as the care aide tried to help him. One day, my boyfriend went over to him, and somehow it seemed to fast or scary, but again, he did put his arms up over his head/face in defense. I'm not saying they did hit him at this facility, but it's interesting, that he never showed this kind of behavior prior to his move to this facility. Why am I giving a bad review? Well: 1. Letting him in, with the knowledge of having a potential positive outbreak (tell us, and we would have waited with the move) 2. Asking for permission to give out vaccines, and not informing the family, that the vaccine team won't go in as long as there's an outbreak 3. Complaining about his behavior, but they should be trained to know, how dementia patients are or can be (he can be very challenging, no doubts, and of course he is NOT the only resident to take care of, but seriously, it is their job to deal with it) 4. Sedating him for 6 weeks to keep him in bed because of his safety? Seriously? That's the only way to do it, and NOT even informing the family about it? 5. Suspicion about his sudden defense reaction