67-year-old veteran says he was kicked out of Moncton hospital with nowhere to go

teentitan wrote:If the Legion is the "voice of the veteran" then maybe they should inform all the hospitals that the Legion has a temporary housing benefit.

They can't claim to be the voice if they keep their yaps shut about their programs.

It all depends on the Legion Teen, some will help where others won't, some are good, most are not good.

It this particular situation I would call an emergency, VAC should have put everything aside and stepped up immediately and made arrangements for his motel, meals and travel to the motel. Downloading everything down to the provinces is bad enough, but it is obvious they do not have an emergency plan in place to act immediately when needed. Also the head of that health dept needs to be given the boot along with the individual who made the call to put this disabled Veteran out in the scorching heat, out on the street. They are stupid heartless people who should not hold that position, period!

If the Legion is the "voice of the veteran" then maybe they should inform all the hospitals that the Legion has a temporary housing benefit.

They can't claim to be the voice if they keep their yaps shut about their programs.

Ombud investigates after veteran forced out of hospital with nowhere to go

67-year-old Robert King says he was kicked out of Georges-Dumont Hospital, despite being unable to return home

By Gabrielle Fahmy, CBC News Posted: Aug 03, 2017 6:30 AM AT Last Updated: Aug 03, 2017 6:30 AM AT


Robert King, who served in Bosnia and Croatia in 1991, is legally blind and in a wheelchair. (CBC)

The New Brunswick ombud is investigating the case of a 67-year-old war veteran from Moncton who was sent packing by the Georges-L.-Dumont Hospital on Friday with nowhere to go.

Robert King, who is legally blind and paralyzed from the waist down, spent several hours on the sidewalk outside the hospital.

"I have no clue whatsoever where I'm going to go," he said Friday.

King served in Bosnia and Croatia in 1991. He is now on disability pension from the Armed Forces and uses a wheelchair.

Cecile Cassista, the executive director of Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights, became involved in the case after being contacted by CBC News.

She got in touch with the Royal Canadian Legion in Moncton, which has been making sure King is looked after, but she also filed a complaint with the New Brunswick Office of the Ombud about how the case was handled.


Seniors' advocate Cecile Cassista filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombud. (CBC)

Cassista told CBC News on Monday she received a call from the department telling her it was taking on the case, but declined to elaborate to avoid interfering with the investigation.

When CBC News tried to confirm the development, the office would not confirm or deny it was investigating, saying it can only comment when cases are completed.

'He indicated several times that he didn't want any freebies, but he just doesn't have a place to go.'
- Ghislan LaPierre, Royal Canadian Legion

Veterans Affairs Canada said it would be inappropriate to comment while the case is before the ombud.

"We are aware of the situation and are working with the provincial health authorities," said spokesperson Marc Lescoutre.

King spent more than two years in the hospital after being found unconscious at his home. The hospital said earlier that such cases are complex and it would put someone on the street who still needed medical care.

Legion members picked up King from outside the hospital on Friday.

'He was very nice and pleasant'

Robert King spent several hours outside the hospital Friday. The bags with his belongings were next to him. (CBC)

"We're here to help the vets." said Ghislan LaPierre, first vice-president of the branch. "He was on the sidewalk there and had no place to go."

​"He was very nice and pleasant. He indicated several times that he didn't want any freebies, but he just doesn't have a place to go."

LaPierre said the legion paid to put up King in a hotel, where he is staying until renovations to his house are completed to make it wheelchair-accessible.

Veterans Affairs is also helping and paying for King's meals while he's in the hotel, in addition to the renovations.

LaPierre said the legion would make sure King receives the care he needs.

"He'll be looked after," said LaPierre.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/ombudsman-investigating-veteran-georges-dumont-1.4232183

"Lanteigne said an estimated 25 per cent of patients end up staying in the hospital, even after they've been medically cleared, because they don't have an appropriate place to go.

He said these cases are complex but the hospital works with the patient's family to make sure they are let go in a secure environment.

"This is very important because as you know, our resources are limited and our beds are fully occupied," he said.

"And we need to have vacancy or space or availability for people who will come at the hospital and be admitted through emergency,

"We're very, very patient with these individuals."

Lanteigne said this case was not related to a recent memo sent to staff about overcrowding and urging them to force patients home."

I guess Lanteigne is admitting he is both a Lier and Stupid, because given his public statement, there was a blind disabled individual in a wheelchair put out onto the street with his belongings stuffed in bags brought out to him by security, contradicting Lanteignes statement. In my opinion this Lanteigne individual should be given the boot!

We fight for the freedom of this country, see the worse scenes, and how humans treat each other. Then we the disabled Vet, get the shaft, and end up on the street. This is disgusting. And we seem to be hearing more of this crap. No wonder the CF is having a hard time recruiting. I'm sure word is being spread on the treatment of Vets. Why would anyone want to join, just to be thrown away like trash at the other end. Cranky Rad Op ..Johnny Out. VVV...

67-year-old veteran says he was kicked out of Moncton hospital with nowhere to go

Robert King was at Georges-Dumont for more than 2 years, trying to figure out new living situation

By Gabrielle Fahmy, CBC News Posted: Jul 28, 2017 6:44 PM AT Last Updated: Jul 28, 2017 6:44 PM AT


Robert King served in Bosnia and Croatia in 1991. He's legally blind and in a wheelchair. (CBC)

A 67-year-old war veteran from Moncton said he was expelled from the Georges-L.-Dumont Hospital without having anywhere to go.

Robert King, who served in Bosnia and Croatia in 1991, spent several hours on the sidewalk outside the hospital Friday. He is legally blind and in a wheelchair.

The bags with his packed belongings were next to him.

"I have no clue whatsoever where I'm going to go," said King.

"The security guards brought down my bags, and I had to get off the hospital property, which is where I'm at right now."

No home until next week

King was at the hospital for two years and four months, while social workers were trying to help him find a new home.

He was admitted after a social worker found him unconscious at his home.

At first, King said he tried to get a spot in a seniors' home.

But it was finally decided Veterans Affairs would renovate his house to make it wheelchair accessible so he could continue living there, he said.

King was at the hospital for two years and four months, while social workers were trying to help him find a new home.

He was admitted after a social worker found him unconscious at his home.

At first, King said he tried to get a spot in a seniors' home.

He was told the work would begin next Monday, and the house would be ready in a week's time.

That's why his discharge from the hospital Friday came as a huge shock, he said.

"They say I've been here too long," he said.

King said he asked hospital staff if he could stay for one more week, while he waited for his house to be ready.

He said the hospital declined, and suggested he stay in a hotel instead.

But King, who is on disability pension from the armed forces, said that's not something he can afford

'We're very, very patient'

Gilles Lanteigne, CEO of the Vitalité Health Network, said he cannot comment on specific cases.

But he said the hospital would never put anyone who requires medical attention out on the street.


Gilles Lanteigne, CEO of the Vitalité Health Network, said the hospital would never put anyone who requires medical attention out on the street. (Radio-Canada)

Lanteigne said an estimated 25 per cent of patients end up staying in the hospital, even after they've been medically cleared, because they don't have an appropriate place to go.

He said these cases are complex but the hospital works with the patient's family to make sure they are let go in a secure environment.

"This is very important because as you know, our resources are limited and our beds are fully occupied," he said.

"And we need to have vacancy or space or availability for people who will come at the hospital and be admitted through emergency,

"We're very, very patient with these individuals."

Lanteigne said this case was not related to a recent memo sent to staff about overcrowding and urging them to force patients home.

Happy ending

This story does have a happy ending.

Since we spoke to King earlier on Friday, members from the Moncton branch of the Royal Canadian Legion picked him up from the sidewalk outside the hospital.

They're putting him up in a hotel for a week until his house is ready, and are will provide care for him during that time.

Meanwhile, Veterans Affairs Canada said they're working with the provincial health authorities to make sure this veteran's needs are met.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/king-veteran-hospital-kicked-out-moncton-1.4226130