Dementia patient dies after assault by fellow patient at B.C. care home

SALMON ARM, B.C. – Mounties and the coroners’ service are investigating after a 93-year-old man with dementia died following an attack by another patient at a long-term care facility in B.C.’s southern Interior.

John Young was assaulted last Friday at Bastion Place in Salmon Arm after he wandered into the room of another dementia patient who was known to be aggressive.

Both men were taken to the hospital and Young died on Tuesday, though the cause of death has yet to be determined.

Tracy Quewezance (KWEE’-zance) of the BC Nurses Union says violence at long-term care facilities are becoming more common, and more secure units and staff are needed.

Interior Health Authority has also launched an investigation and Karen Bloemink (BLOO’-mink), the executive director of residential service, says there have already been changes at Bastion Place to increase nurses’ availabilities.

Staffing concerns were raised at the facility seven years ago when two residents were beaten, but the health minister at the time blamed the incidents on the unpredictable nature of dementia patients. (CFJC)