Winnipeg seniors' theft concerns prompt patient's sister to report stolen iPad
A Winnipeg woman says the courage of some seniors who spoke out about alleged thefts at an assisted-living facility has prompted her to call police on her brother's behalf after his iPad mini went missing from a different facility.
Bonnie Taylor bought the tablet computer last Christmas for her 73-year-old brother Jim, who has dementia and is a patient at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre's geriatric unit.
Taylor said she discovered the iPad was missing when she visited Jim last week. She alerted centre staff, who searched the locked facility but couldn't find it.
The disappearance disappointed Taylor, who had hoped the pricey gift would improve Jim's quality of life by making it easier for him to look at family photos.
"The iPad mini helps him recognize and stay in touch with the memories that he has of his family and family happenings, so it's an awful thing to do to someone," she told CBC News.
Taylor said after the iPad disappeared, she started receiving strange emails asking for her password, leading her to believe someone is trying to use it.
She said she called RCMP to report the iPad stolen after seeing a CBC News story this week about residents of Assiniboine Links, an assisted-living facility in Winnipeg, reporting that some valuables had gone missing from their rooms.
Police confirmed that an employee was arrested and faces charges in connection with the seniors' complaints. Officials with Assiniboine Links told CBC News the worker has been terminated.
Almost didn't go to police
However, Taylor said she initially didn't want to take the matter to police.
"My brother has a relationship with his caregivers, and I have a relationship with his caregivers, and I felt that by going to the police I would be saying 'thief' and I would be spreading these bad vibes around and that this would affect my brother," she said.
Taylor said one of her concerns was that by going to police, her brother may not be allowed to keep another iPad in his room.
The Manitoba government, which runs the Selkirk Mental Health Centre, confirmed that staff were notified on Aug. 17 of a patient's iPad mini that went missing.
A provincial government spokesperson said the mental health centre currently has a policy that encourages patients to keep their valuables with family members.
"However, if the item is left with the patient, a form must be signed with the patient/family accepting responsibility for the item," the spokesperson stated in an email to CBC News Tuesday.
"As a result of this incident, SMHC will be reviewing the valuables policy and is completing an audit of all patient records to ensure the appropriate form has been filled out correctly and signed by the treatment decision maker (patient, family member or Public Trustee)."
Police, help line here to help
Winnipeg police say a lot of thefts and other property crimes end up going unreported because people think they're not serious enough to warrant getting police involved.
But police spokesperson Const. Jason Michalyshen said people should let officers make those types of decisions.
"It doesn't matter age, it doesn't matter gender, it doesn't matter where you live, if you have a concern with respect to your property, your personal well-being in any way shape or form, report it to us," he said.
"Take the time to, you know, document what you can with respect with what your concerns are, provide that information to officers, and we'll ultimately make that determination."
Laurie Unrau, executive director of the province's Seniors and Healthy Aging Secretariat, said seniors can also call a 24-hour support line if they feel they are being taken advantage of in any way.
The Senior's Abuse Support Line at 1-888-896-7183. Caregivers and family members can also call if they have concerns.
"The help line is there to listen to find out, you know, why you feel this way, what experiences have you been having," Unrau said.
The Long-Term and Continuing Care Association of Manitoba, which represents health-care providers, says the policy at all of its facilities is to conduct thorough investigations when a complaint is made.
As for Taylor, she said she'll do what she can to advocate for her brother, but she wonders how many other seniors are suffering in silence.
"It's an awful thing to do to someone in that context … to have this happen to him when he's vulnerable and helpless, and to have someone move forward like that and do that knowing that these things belong to people who are not in a position to defend themselves or replace them unless somebody else comes forward," she said.
