By DARCY HENTON, LEGISLATURE BUREAU

A city man whose mother died after she suffered from malnourishment, dehydration and gangrene in an Edmonton nursing home is demanding a public inquiry into her death.

Rob Warden said he wants improved standards to be implemented to better safeguard seniors in nursing homes after his mother Jean Warden died Sept. 23, just before her 84th birthday.

"I want to have an official inquiry into my mom's case and into nursing homes in the province in general," he said.

Warden says he has been stonewalled by the province, and letters to Tory cabinet ministers and to the premier have gone unanswered.

Undeterred, he has erected giant billboards depicting a photograph of his mother and the question: Is your Mom safe in her nursing home? He has also published documents related to her care on the website www.jeanwarden.com.
 

Liberal MLA Hugh MacDonald, who has met with the Warden family, says they should be commended for pressing for improvements in nursing homes.

"It's too late for their family, but hopefully their actions will prevent similar incidents from happening in the future," he said. "It's inconceivable that in our centennial year and with all our resources that families would have to go through this."

MacDonald said Alberta needs an inspector-general that's accountable to the legislature to enforce measurable standards and a seniors' bill of rights.

Capital Health is conducting a thorough investigation into Warden's death, said spokesman Sandra Huculak. "If there is anything this panel believes should be changed, it will be done."

Alberta Seniors spokesman Jason Chance says the province is also expected to move soon to implement recommendations from the provincial auditor general and an MLA task force to improve care.

But NDP Leader Brian Mason says he thinks the province is attempting to "water down" recommendations to improve care in seniors homes.

He said that could cost some seniors their health and possibly even their lives.