The Retirement Home Regulatory Authority has revoked the license of a Dresden retirement home, saying the owner’s mismanagement of the home is “irresponsible (and) incompetent.”

Park Street Place, which can house up to 52 residents but has under 40 now, has been under the microscope since Sept. 25, 2023, after complaints the chronic short staffing problems reached a head with only a cook, housekeeper and maintenance person on site when the scheduled Registered Practical Nurse didn’t come to work.

Inspector Angela Butler found there was “no staff available to care for residents” and that critical medications, such as diabetic insulin, were locked in a cupboard with no key.

Residents, she said, were neglected; “There was evidence that residents had not received breakfast at the scheduled or reasonable time.” The inspector also found at least three residents didn’t receive medication adding the retirement home owner “failed to protect the residents from neglect.”

The RHRA appointed a general manager, who is still in place, and the owner – a numbered company which lists Pushpinder Brah as its main contact – was to follow the manager’s instructions on hiring staff.

But the situation didn’t improve. Family of residents told The Independent in November, staffing levels were still low with only one personal support worker in the entire home when they visited.

Jan. 22, the Retirement Home Regulator Authority announced Park Street Place’s license will be revoked May 29. Brah must either sell the home, so someone else can operate it as a licensed home, or “cease operating as a home.”

The Deputy Register in his report writes the licensee failed to provide the necessary
care services to residents and protect them from neglect.

“The licensee is operating the home in a critical state of debt, which has resulted in
staffing, vendor, and supplier interruptions. Outstanding payments to external staffing
agencies have resulted in interruptions in securing temporary staff to ensure that the
home has, at all times, a sufficient number of staff,” the report states.

“The licensee’s late and insufficient staff payments, including failing to make remittances
to the unionized staff pension fund, has resulted in staff resignations or leaves of absence,” it continued adding the licensee didn’t pay the manager who was appointed by the RHRA to oversee the home either.

“The licensee is focused on reducing expenses and is not guided by ensuring resident needs are met and resident health is safeguarded.”

Phil Norris of the RHRA says this is a rare action. The RHRA has revoked 16 licences since 2019.

“When it comes to revoking a license, which is not something we take lightly, we do consider the seriousness of any non compliance as well as whether the licensee can can operate the home competently and in a manner that’s not going to be detrimental to the health, safety or well being of its residents.”

Residents and their families were notified about the changes Jan. 22. A letter written by the RHRA’s legal counsel advises families the home will help them look for other appropriate accommodation. But if they do choose to stay at Park Street Place, they will have to arrange home care services. If the owner does choose to continue to rent out the rooms, Park Street Place won’t be able to offer any services such as bathing, providing medication or meals.