Court hears about social worker's attempt to save Viola Simonds
McLaughlin, T. (2014). Toronto Sun/QMI Agency. Retrieved from: http://www.torontosun.com/2014/10/15/court-hears-about-social-workers-attempt-to-save-viola-simonds
BARRIE - A social worker and her team
went through hoops to try to rescue an elderly woman from starvation and
squalor, but didn’t succeed, a court heard Wednesday.
“We were very frustrated with the system,” said Keri-Ann Brunson, a social worker with the Community Care Access Centre at Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital.
She said she was alarmed when she saw 73-year-old Viola Simonds brought into emergency in 2008, suffering from malnutrition, and tried to get her removed from her daughter’s care.
The woman’s daughter, Diana Davy, and her husband, James Davy, who were power of attorneys, are now on trial before a jury charged with failing to provide the necessities of life.
“She appeared to be a victim of neglect,” said Brunson. “She was dirty, frail, unkempt and she was crying out a lot.”
Immediately she put the wheels in motion to have Simonds moved to a long-term care home, but the Davys refused.
“Diana presented as defensive ... She said she would be calling her lawyer.”
Brunson reported the case to the Ontario Consent Capacity Board and applied to have the Davys removed as powers of attorney. The board rejected the request, but Brunson applied again — this time with the help and support of Simonds’ doctor.
A hearing was held, but for the second time, the request was rejected by the board. However this time the board ordered Brunson could make weekly, unannounced visits to the Davy home.
It was not enough, Brunson said.
“I was still quite concerned,” said Brunson. “In my opinion, Ms. Simonds was a very vulnerable person. She should not have gone back into her daughter’s care.”
Repeated calls and knocks on Davy’s door ended with no answer. Police were called but neither the Davys nor Simonds were located.
The frail, elderly lady and the Davys seemingly disappeared.
Three years later, Simonds showed up in emergency again, this time, near death.
“Her bones were sticking out, she was emaciated, malnourished,” said Brunson. “She was covered in dried vomit, dirty, she had bruises, her hair was matted ... And she was in distress. She was crying out.”
Brunson checked her pharmacy records and noted that under the Ontario drug benefits program for seniors, Viola Simonds had not had any of her prescriptions filled for up to two years.
Simonds was eventually moved to a long-term care facility, which was covered by her various incomes, including her work pension, old age security pension and Canada Pension Plan. But she never recovered and she was too sick to have a fractured hip repaired. She died months later.
The trial continues.
“We were very frustrated with the system,” said Keri-Ann Brunson, a social worker with the Community Care Access Centre at Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital.
She said she was alarmed when she saw 73-year-old Viola Simonds brought into emergency in 2008, suffering from malnutrition, and tried to get her removed from her daughter’s care.
The woman’s daughter, Diana Davy, and her husband, James Davy, who were power of attorneys, are now on trial before a jury charged with failing to provide the necessities of life.
“She appeared to be a victim of neglect,” said Brunson. “She was dirty, frail, unkempt and she was crying out a lot.”
Immediately she put the wheels in motion to have Simonds moved to a long-term care home, but the Davys refused.
“Diana presented as defensive ... She said she would be calling her lawyer.”
Brunson reported the case to the Ontario Consent Capacity Board and applied to have the Davys removed as powers of attorney. The board rejected the request, but Brunson applied again — this time with the help and support of Simonds’ doctor.
A hearing was held, but for the second time, the request was rejected by the board. However this time the board ordered Brunson could make weekly, unannounced visits to the Davy home.
It was not enough, Brunson said.
“I was still quite concerned,” said Brunson. “In my opinion, Ms. Simonds was a very vulnerable person. She should not have gone back into her daughter’s care.”
Repeated calls and knocks on Davy’s door ended with no answer. Police were called but neither the Davys nor Simonds were located.
The frail, elderly lady and the Davys seemingly disappeared.
Three years later, Simonds showed up in emergency again, this time, near death.
“Her bones were sticking out, she was emaciated, malnourished,” said Brunson. “She was covered in dried vomit, dirty, she had bruises, her hair was matted ... And she was in distress. She was crying out.”
Brunson checked her pharmacy records and noted that under the Ontario drug benefits program for seniors, Viola Simonds had not had any of her prescriptions filled for up to two years.
Simonds was eventually moved to a long-term care facility, which was covered by her various incomes, including her work pension, old age security pension and Canada Pension Plan. But she never recovered and she was too sick to have a fractured hip repaired. She died months later.
The trial continues.
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