Forty-three residential care homes for seniors on southern Vancouver Island have been given a 'high risk' rating by licensing inspectors over the past four years, B.C.'s opposition party said Wednesday.

NDP leader Carole James says the B.C. government should appoint an independent watchdog to ensure safety standards in all seniors' residential facilities.
(CBC)

NDP leader Carole James said internal assessment reports on the island's senior and community living homes — prepared for the Vancouver Island Health Authority between 2004 to 2007 — revealed problems such as insufficient staff, insufficient training, financial abuse, neglect and unsafe facilities.

"[It's] very concerning to see that number of facilities rated at high risk," James said.

But Health Minister George Abbott said the rating system is misleading and the NDP is taking it out of context.

He said several of the so-called high-risk facilities listed in the reports haven't even opened yet.

New homes that aren't occupied are routinely classified as high risk because there's no other information available, he said.

B.C. Health Minister George Abbott said several of the so-called high-risk facilities listed in the reports obtained by the NDP haven't even opened yet.
(CBC)

"One of the things we're working on is a new assessment tool because this one clearly is misleading — especially because it aids and abets folks like the NDP, who will, I think, disparage entirely, unfairly residential care facilities even though they are not open yet," Abbott said.

Kim MacDonald, a licensing manager for the Vancouver Island Health Authority, said a high risk rating does not mean residents of those homes are in danger.

"There may be health and safety concerns in facilities. Risk to me is a different term," MacDonald said.

Some of the inspection reports noted poor management practices or hazardous conditions, while a few cited a history of neglect or abuse.

"There are facilities that are not complying with the legislation today and those issues will be followed up and if they don't comply we will do progressive enforcement," MacDonald said.

In October 2007, the NDP obtained internal health authority reports detailing dozens of abuses and health and safety violations at Beacon Hill Villa dating back to 2002. But the facility continued to operate without sanctions.

Subsequently, the health authority took over administration of the seniors' home after officials found the privately-run facility had not been able to meet the minimum standard of care.