“They’ve failed Albertans, failed us badly by not having a place to put their seniors.” That assessment last week from one Slave Lake octogenarian who says seniors in this province deserve better.
Florence Pearson- Thompson says she and some of her fellow residents at Vanderwell Heritage Place read the riot act to the board that operates that facility recently for what they called inhumane treatment of residents.
“They’re turning our lodge into a long-term care facility,” she says, “and some seniors have absolutely no quality of life.” And provincial regulations are allowing it to happen, she added. The lodge was intended for seniors who are relatively self-sufficient, she says. But in recent months, some seriously ill people who should be in a long-term care unit have been sent back to the lodge, left alone in their rooms – or to wander the hallways.
That problem was corrected almost immediately after the residents took their gripes to the board, says Pearson-Thompson. But the people who say they’re not being represented by anyone in particular say they’re not about to stop their complaining until they’re heard – by the province if that’s what it takes.
In the past “seniors were not speaking out enough,” when they saw problems, she said. But all that’s about to change.
“If they think they’re going to keep us quiet, they’ve got the wrong people,” she added with a determined grin.
The lodge has a high rate of turn over in staffing, she says. That’s particularly true when it comes to kitchen staff, and Pearson-Thompson believes that’s happening because the Housing Authority is hiring untrained personnel to do the job.
“Just like a lot of daycares used to be run sloppily, I think it should be compulsory that lodges have properly trained people,” in every position.
“We have a college right here in our community. Why can’t they set up a training program for cooks? Or housekeeping staff?”
Certain meals leave much to be desired, she adds. That leads to residents throwing out their uneaten meals, a tragedy in itself, she says.
“Having a dietician’s menu is fine. But there are times when the meal’s over-cooked – and other times when it’s raw.” It can’t be blamed on untrained individuals, she adds, but the people who put them in that position.
The 87-year-old former Town councillor best known for her dogged determination and drive hasn’t lost that spunk since she retired from politics.
She says there have been some overt attempts made to keep the more vocal residents in line. “But they’d better keep their words soft and sweet, because they never know the ones they’re going to eat.”
Untrained individuals are often the only staff members on duty at night, she says, creating a potentially dangerous situation for both residents and the staff member.
“If they can’t have someone (with proper training) here at night, then why don’t they take the sick people to the hospital?”
Lodge residents, she adds, should be treated with care and dignity.
“I like the people here,” says Pearson-Thompson, “and I’m not going to see them suffer.”

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