SHA says private care homes decide which transitional patients to accept

As part of the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s “capacity pressure action plan,” care homes have been asked to take on acute-care patients transitioning out of hospital settings.

650 CKOM confirmed those in charge of private care homes ultimately decide how many and which patients to take.

That includes Warman’s Diamond House care home, the subject of scrutiny after Charmaine Macooh’s 92-year-old father suffered potentially life-threatening injuries in February, including a brain bleed, severe bruising, and a head wound that required seven stitches to close.

As of March 25, Macooh said the man who allegedly assaulted her father still lived at the assisted living facility.

An undated letter sent to Diamond House residents and families last week from CEO Heather Haupstein revealed the care home will provide transitional care for older adults who no longer require hospital care.

“We are working on criteria for admissions so please give Diamond House a little time to get things figured out,” the letter states.

The family of 92-year-old dementia resident Barney says he was attacked by another resident while living at Diamond House in Warman on Feb. 5, 2024. 650 CKOM is withholding his last name and facial features to respect his privacy.

During an interview with 650 CKOM, John Ash — the vice-president of Integrated Saskatoon Health for the Saskatchewan Health Authority — confirmed the contract with Diamond House and two other Saskatoon care homes totalling 75 convalescent care beds.

Thirty of the 120 beds at Diamond House are contracted for use. Twenty-four of those beds are currently occupied.

Ash wouldn’t say how much money the SHA is paying Diamond House.

“We have an agreement with Diamond House where we will pay a set amount based on the terms of the contract, and the amount is spent for beds that are occupied. So it’s not for the total beds we’ve procured, it’s only for the beds that are occupied during that time period,” he said.

According to the Government of Saskatchewan’s personal care home site, residents of Diamond House pay anywhere from just over $4,000 to $10,000 per month to live at the facility.

Ash said those using one of the 30 beds are charged a fee based on the provincial government’s guidelines for special care homes. That fee is based on their income. But what if someone doesn’t have the money to pay?

“There’s certainly services and programs within the province to support individuals who cannot afford to pay for particular housing, but whether that applies to these individuals or not, I cannot comment,” he added.

Ash said a team of health-care professionals assess hospital patients to ensure their cases are suitable before arriving at the care homes.

“Once it’s determined that there’s an appropriate fit potentially for one of these care home convalescent care beds, we actually will send a de-identified file to the care home and have a discussion with the care home to determine whether it’s (an) appropriate fit for their facility,” he added.

The facility administrators decide to accept certain patients, and they can review in full detail the de-identified patient files of potential residents.

Ash can’t say whether any patients with mental health, addictions or other health issues have been sent to Diamond House to live with elderly patients. However, he did say that the patients would typically be those who need daily living assistance, simple wound care or IV treatment, or are waiting for surgery.

“I’d like to assure people the SHA, before even considering that a patient is eligible for going to these convalescent care beds, go through an internal assessment to determine whether they would meet the criteria,” he said.

But Macooh still wants answers as to how and why the man who allegedly assaulted her father ended up in a room across from him, and why he continues to live at the facility.

“I just would like to see safety for these residents and just more caring,” she said.

Charmaine Macooh moved her father out of Diamond House on March 25 after he faced an alleged violent assault that left him with serious injuries to his face and bleeding in his brain. (Lara Fominoff/650 CKOM)