Rachel+DeRosa

**__Vigil outside Trail hospital commemorates the Albo tragedy__**
Printed from the Trail Daily Times 2010

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“The whole damn outfit is rotten from the core out. If you put a rotten apple at the top of a barrel eventually all the apples will rot,” he said, standing outside the Trail hospital Friday on the anniversary of his mother’s death.======

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Many are familiar with of the Albo story – 91-year-old Fanny Albo was transferred in February 2006 from the Trail hospital to a facility in Grand Forks, where she died two days later, apart from her husband and family. A broken-hearted Alfie Albo, who was also a patient at KBRH when his wife of 69 years was moved, died a week later.======

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For the past four years, Albo has stood outside the hospital to remind residents of his parents’ tragedy that raised questions about residential care placement and the “first available bed” policy of the time.======

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The hospital has since revised its policy by ensuring family members approve patient transfers. It then provides temporary placements for seniors without removing them from a preferred residential-care placement list.======

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From a formula perspective, Trail sits above average in the number of available beds for seniors, he explained. The city has 95 beds for 1,000 people over the age of 65, which is above the average of 93 beds.======

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“The difference is in the philosophy of care,” said Marino, when comparing residential to hospital care. “In residential care, seniors get up, get dressed and are stimulated by activities, at the hospital they’re in acute beds in gowns.”======

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Looking to give the seniors a sense of home, the hospital has included them in Poplar Ridge activities and given them some flexibility with meals. Seniors shower about the same frequency as they would in residential care, even more by request, said Marino.======

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The hospital has improved on managing waitlists and working with seniors looking for placement, said Marino, who suggests other solutions like home support, assisted living or supportive housing where possible.======

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“It’s something that will always be an issue with the Albos, and it’s understandable,” said Marino of the annual rally outside the front doors of the hospital. “I understand why he’s out. I just hope he remembers positive memories of his parents.”Jim Albo’s hatred for Interior Health has only grown since policy left his mother to die alone four years ago.======

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“The whole damn outfit is rotten from the core out. If you put a rotten apple at the top of a barrel eventually all the apples will rot,” he said, standing outside the Trail hospital Friday on the anniversary of his mother’s death.======

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Many are familiar with of the Albo story – 91-year-old Fanny Albo was transferred in February 2006 from the Trail hospital to a facility in Grand Forks, where she died two days later, apart from her husband and family. A broken-hearted Alfie Albo, who was also a patient at KBRH when his wife of 69 years was moved, died a week later.======

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For the past four years, Albo has stood outside the hospital to remind residents of his parents’ tragedy that raised questions about residential care placement and the “first available bed” policy of the time.======

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The hospital has since revised its policy by ensuring family members approve patient transfers. It then provides temporary placements for seniors without removing them from a preferred residential-care placement list.======

=
From a formula perspective, Trail sits above average in the number of available beds for seniors, he explained. The city has 95 beds for 1,000 people over the age of 65, which is above the average of 93 beds.======

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“The difference is in the philosophy of care,” said Marino, when comparing residential to hospital care. “In residential care, seniors get up, get dressed and are stimulated by activities, at the hospital they’re in acute beds in gowns.”======

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Looking to give the seniors a sense of home, the hospital has included them in Poplar Ridge activities and given them some flexibility with meals. Seniors shower about the same frequency as they would in residential care, even more by request, said Marino.======

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The hospital has improved on managing waitlists and working with seniors looking for placement, said Marino, who suggests other solutions like home support, assisted living or supportive housing where possible.======

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“It’s something that will always be an issue with the Albos, and it’s understandable,” said Marino of the annual rally outside the front doors of the hospital. “I understand why he’s out. I just hope he remembers positive memories of his parents.”======

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Jim Albo a man who lost both his senior parents is fighting interior health regarding poor health care with seniors in the kootney boundary area, from February until present. Several people in the article are complaining about IHA’s treatment of seniors. Frank Marino the trail’s health administrator is defending the IHA. People believe that the IHA is neglecting our seniors.======

Biases: Jim Albo is saying that the IHA is the cause for all the neglect with seniors in the KBRH. He has all negative comments like, “The whole damn outfit is rotten from the core out. If you put a rotten apple at the top of a barrel eventually all the apples will rot.” People are saying that the seniors are being moved there to die. Jim Albo says, “IHA has raped and pillaged health care.” Frank Marino is trying to defend the IHA by saying “ The hospital has improved on managing waitlists and working with seniors looking for placement.” He says that they treat the seniors like they would in a home, showering them the same amount as at any home. Leslie Edwards went to check on her father and said he looked “grubby, unshaved and hadn’t showered in days. She believes if she doesn’t take care of him, no one will. I think Marino’s opinion is biased because he works for the IHA and would want it to look good. Albo’s opinion is biased because he lost his parents and that would affect his opinion of IHA services.