Nursing home security a 'balancing act', says national advocate amid Saint John sex-offences investigation

The head of a national seniors' advocacy organization says protecting nursing home residents from sexual abuse is an important but challenging issue.

Laura Tamblyn Watts, the CEO of CanAge, was responding to the Saint John police investigation into alleged sex offences at Loch Lomond Villa’s The Village involving at least a dozen victims, some into their 90s.

Long-term care homes typically have a variety of security measures, including video cameras, she said.

But it's a "balancing act."

"Long-term care homes are people's homes, right? So they're not supposed to be watched at every minute of every day. … Residents deserve their privacy."

The homes are also part of the community. People "should — and can — come in and out," including relatives and other visitors, volunteers and sometimes people who are providing services, such as entertainment, said Tamblyn Watts, who is based in Toronto.

"We want to have a vibrant environment in long-term care," she said.

The problem is that while employees and volunteers often go through "fairly significant screenings," others do not.

"And because of the high-degree of dependency in people in long-term care, often with cognitive impairment, if sexual offences are occurring … it's very hard for victims to say anything," she said.

The Saint John Police Force announced the investigation Jan. 23 after being alerted by staff at the 100-bed nursing home on the city's east side two days earlier.

The family protection unit has identified "over a dozen" victims so far, all in their 70s to 90s, Staff Sgt. Shawna Fowler has said.

Police have also identified a suspect, Fowler said. It's not an employee or resident, but someone who is "affiliated" with the home.

Ashley King, the CEO of Loch Lomond Villa, has declined an interview with CBC News, citing the ongoing police investigation. But in an emailed statement she said impacted families have been informed and additional safety measures have been implemented, including on-site security.

Richard Losier, CEO of the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes, also declined to discuss security at the Villa — or any long-term care homes in the province.