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Teresa Heartchild

Teresa Heartchild’s Story: Crisis, Capacity and Courage

Presentation to Ontario's Select Committee on Developmental Services Teresa’s story: Crisis, Capacity and Courage by her sister, Franke James
My sister, Teresa, is 49-years old and has Down Syndrome.
Teresa lived with my parents all her life. After my mother died in 1999, she moved with my father to a condo in North Toronto.
On November 27, 2013, Teresa was admitted to a Nursing Home (LTCH)
Teresa is an active, strong-willed and able-bodied adult.
Teresa should never have been admitted to a nursing home.
The admission was done against her wishes.
And against the wishes of her father
How could this happen?
The system did not protect Teresa...
In fact, the system worked against Teresa: 1. Teresa’s Human Rights were taken away; 2. Teresa’s Father lost his rights to protect his daughter; 3. The CCAC “Crisis List” was manipulated to put Teresa into LTCH
1. Teresa’s Human Rights were taken away
Whose voice would you listen to? Father: “I do not want Teresa in a nursing home.”. Teresa: “I want to stay in the condo.” Sibling: “Teresa should be placed in a nursing home.
September 4, 2013: CCAC assessed Teresa as Not Capable
September 4, 2013: CCAC used Teresa’s statements about her independence, “I shower myself”, “I dress myself” as evidence of cognitive decline
September 4, 2013: CCAC repeatedly ignored Teresa’s stated wishes
CCAC ignored their own observations about Teresa
2. Teresa’s Father lost his rights to protect his daughter.
September 3, 2013: TCCAC learned that Teresa’s Dad, the Senior POA, would oppose Teresa’s placement in LTCH
September 6, 2013: CCAC suggested that Teresa’s Dad, could have his rights removed
September 10, 2013: CCAC interviews Teresa’s Father and notes that he very clearly does NOT want Teresa put in LTCH
September 11, 2013: CCAC receives Revocation document removing Teresa’s Father’s Power of Attorney
September 11, 2013: CCAC did not question the revocation document, which is legally invalid because it was signed by the spouses of the Attorneys.
Invalid Revocation document
3. The CCAC “Crisis List” was manipulated to put Teresa at the top and into a LTCH
August 23, 2013: Teresa was falsely described as incapable of taking care of herself
October 5, 2013: Teresa was described as having “insidious” cognitive problems and decline
October 5, 2013: Teresa was reported to have had “wandering” events
November 21-22, 2013: Franke's offers to take Teresa into my home were not given to CCAC by Teresa’s SDM
On November 27, 2013: Teresa was admitted as a longterm placement to the Rekai Centre (Without her consent and without her father’s knowledge.)
November 28, 2013: CCAC was informed about my offer to take Teresa
On November 30, 2013: Teresa was discharged under the authority of my father, senior Power of Attorney
November 30, 2013: Franke spoke with Rekai Centre CEO, Mary Hoare, and told her about my offer to care for Teresa
November 30, 2013: CCAC suggested calling the police to return Teresa to Rekai Centre
November 30, 2013: Police arrived at Teresa’s home and took her father, against his wishes, to Sunnybrook Hospital (Form 2 Mental Health Act)
On December 1, 2013: Teresa moved into our home! And has lived with us ever since.
December 1, 2013: Rekai Centre was informed again about my offer to take Teresa
All of us are very concerned about Teresa...
December 4, 2013: Police with “Missing Person” report from the Rekai Centre came to take Teresa back to the Nursing Home
December 4, 2013: Fortunately, the police agreed that Teresa was safe and allowed her to stay with us.
January 6, 2014: CCAC, Surrey Place refuse to release Teresa’s medical records saying that Teresa’s Capacity is in question...
January 11, 2014: Teresa has new Capacity Assessment and is found to be Capable.
January 15, 2014: Teresa signs new Power of Attorney PC
January 18, 2014: Teresa gets her CCAC Records
Teresa is thriving! Teresa cooking lasagna at my home
Teresa is thriving! Teresa at Addus!
Teresa is thriving! Teresa is exuberant
Teresa is thriving! Teresa on the TTC
Teresa is thriving! Teresa with me on a winter adventure!
Recommendations: 1. Consent and Capacity law is easily abused. We need to change it.
Recommendations: 2. The “Crisis List” is broken. We need to fix it.
Recommendations: 3. Disabled and disadvantaged people are getting hurt in Ontario’s Care System. We need protection.

Teresa has launched a petition asking for a full public apology from the Rekai Center and the CCAC. Please sign her Petition at Change.org.

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