Private nursing homes with poor standards of care should be closed, according to the Progressive Labour Party’s deputy leader Derrick Burgess.

And the Opposition MP listed a catalogue of neglect of elderly people in private care homes, including one stroke victim with deep bed sores who was “almost skeletally thin and in need of urgent specialist nursing care.”

He cited the case of a woman who had been injured in a fall from bed because of unsafe conditions which were a breach of the laws governing care homes.

In other homes, residents were confined to chairs in a lounge with no ventilation or access to fresh outdoor air, and one patient’s nails had not been cut for so long they curve in such a way “they resemble claws.”

“A number of small residential and nursing care homes of varying standards exist on the Island,” said Mr Burgess, the PLP’s Shadow Minister for Labour Relations and Seniors.

“Some of these homes are in breach of the Residential Care Homes and Nursing Homes Act and probably need to be closed.”

He called for the Government department responsible to launch an immediate review of nursing homes across Bermuda and for the launch of an abuse hotline for seniors living in care homes and the community.

“We believe that the standard of care in some of our rest/nursing homes should be reviewed by an independent body and at the same time the Residential Care Homes and Nursing Homes Act 2001 should be a requirement that is closely monitored by Government.”

Mr Burgess said Government should step in and build “at least three more nursing care facilities of the high calibre and capacity as the Sylvia Richardson Care Facility” to meet the requirements of the Island’s ageing population.

“Presently there are not enough rest and nursing homes of an acceptable standard. As the population of seniors grows the number of seniors requiring nursing care also grows,” he said.

“It is apparent that the Government has no plans to construct further facilities, neither are there plans to appoint qualified staff to deal with patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

“Even for those seniors fortunate in being able to live independently there are no plans to build further seniors’ residences such as Dr Cann Park in Southampton.”

Mr Burgess added that a Civil Service position had been created to match those in need of residential care with nursing homes.

But he said: “It is our information that the worker recently appointed is attempting to do this without visiting any of the nursing homes, assessing them for quality and risk or taking into account the needs of any of the applicants as per the Act.”

Mr Burgess added that extra charges on fees, which can run to between $5,000-$11,000 a month, should also be looked at and regulations introduced.

He said: “There are no standards for extra charges or regulations concerning what nursing homes are required to supply. One nursing home asks families for an extra $200 a month for items like ice cream outings and podiatry.

“I believe Bermuda needs a charter of rights for the elderly, especially the elderly in need of care, and the PLP will introduce such a charter.

“A residential home can fulfil all the conditions of the Residential Care Homes Act but be totally deficient in terms of dignity, respect, comfort and appropriate care.

“Bermuda also needs an impartial, non-aligned body to regularly review and inspect homes for the elderly and to respond quickly to complaints.”

Mr Burgess said one home served inadequate food, while another had mould on ceilings and walls and the bathroom only had cold water.

He added: “Another elderly lady was admitted to an assisted living unit in a four-bedded room, containing a high non-adjustable bed with wheels that would not lock, a call button that was out of reach, a slippery floor and no night light.

“The room was in complete darkness at night contrary to the 2001 regulations. During the night she attempted to get out of the bed to use the bathroom, she tried to get off the bed, which skidded across the floor causing her to fall, which resulted in injury to her.”

And he said: “Advancing in age does not involve any reductions of a person’s rights.

“Age and dependency cannot be the grounds for restrictions on any inalienable human rights.”

Government did not respond to requests for comment last night.