Saint Vincent’s Langara

I would not recommend this facility. They claim to practice the «Eden» philosophy of care, but do not put it into practice in my opinion. It is a cold and clinical environment, and the caregivers all seem to hate their jobs. Activities are sparse, only once or twice a day, and usually just church services or singing.
There is no security at the front door, and I walked into the building at all hours, with nobody seeing me or screening me for patient safety. Anyone could have walked in at any time and assaulted a patient or stolen from them. Furthermore, the wanderguard alarms that are placed on patients are constantly going off so much that employees seem to just tune out the sound. Response time is slow at best, and the loud alarms are very disturbing and disruptive. The biohazard/​soiled utility room door is left open all the time, and the smell of urine and feces is overpowering at times.
I observed a lack of commitment to providing a good death for residents of this facility. There were thankfully a few nurses who were caring and attentive to my Mother’s need for comfort, but others who did not have the slightest knowledge or interest in the concept of providing a good death (i.e. pain management, temperature control, dehydration management, music, comfort, nurturing etc). One nurse’s solution to my Mother’s dehydration was to smear personal lubricant (like KY Jelly) inside her mouth and on her tongue. They didn’t have sponges to moisten her mouth, nor did they have the ability to add moisture to their oxygen concentrator. One nurse finally wrapped gauze around a tongue depressor for me to wet down my Mom’s mouth and tongue, but before that I had to just use her toothbrush or washcloth. I am thankful for that nurse because she at least found a solution to ease my Mom’s suffering.
When I stayed the night at the facility, I heard crying and screams from other patients, as they were roughly toileted and wiped, and heard a patient begging for the caregiver to stop hurting her because her bottom was so raw and sore. The caregiver did not even acknowledge that she was being spoken to, and the patient kept screaming and crying. (They didn’t bother to close the patient’s doors while toileting, and so it was all out there for anyone to see and hear). It was terribly disturbing and I can’t help but wonder if my own Mother was ever manhandled in such a way without us knowing it.
If your loved one is at this facility, and entering the last stages of life, I would recommend staying with them around the clock, and bringing with you the following items to help ease their discomfort: a humidifier, saline eye drops (to help with dryness), a mouth moistening spray or sponges (to help keep their mouth moist), music, lotion for dry skin, a soft non scratchy blanket, and something softly fragrant to help keep their room smelling fresh. Maybe also some mittens and warm fuzzy socks, because as fevers arise the nurses will continually remove blankets and sheets, despite the lack or circulation to extremities – so core body temperature may be hot, but hands and feet will be freezing.
If someone from SVL happens to read this, I would be happy to answer any questions, and would highly encourage some investigating here.