Ministry report cites allegation of sexual abuse at long-term care home in Six Nations, Ont.
CBC
WARNING: This article mentions sexual abuse.
A long-term care home in Six Nations of the Grand River is under review by the elected council after an Ontario government inspection revealed an allegation a staff member had sexually abused a resident — something that wasn't immediately reported to police.
In a report about Iroquois Lodge Nursing Home in Ohsweken that's dated Oct. 19, 2023, an inspector from the Ministry of Long-Term Care says a worker witnessed a colleague in a "sexual encounter" with a resident.
Management was not notified right away, as is required under provincial legislation, but rather the next day, the report says. The director didn't notify the police, as is also required.
"Failure to immediately report the sexual abuse to police resulted in potential risk to residents due to lack of police investigation," the inspector wrote.
The inspection took place over August and September 2023, and involved reviews of clinical records and interviews of staff. The report does not say when the alleged abuse happened. However, according to the ministry, the previous inspection took place in June and July 2023.
The report also does not say what repercussions, if any, the staff member involved in the incident faced.
The inspector issued three written notices to Iroquois Lodge related to the incident, including failing to protect a resident from sexual abuse and report it immediately to the director and police.
Six Nations police did not respond to CBC Hamilton's request for comment about whether the home has since reported the incident to them.
Markham, Ont.-based Extendicare — which operates 126 long-term care homes across Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta — managed Iroquois Lodge until July 2023, it said in a request for comment from CBC Hamilton.
It didn't answer questions about the quality of care at Iroquois Lodge while under its management.
The home is now run by Six Nations Health Services, a department of the elected council.
The current elected council, which was sworn in on Nov. 7, learned of the inspection report in late November, it said this week, adding it would be conducting a review.
"Certain alleged incidents" are of "serious concern," the elected council said in a statement to media. "As a result, a thorough review will be conducted of existing policies, clinical processes and procedures to ensure that Iroquois Lodge residents and their families receive the highest standards of quality care."
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