Martino retirement homes hit with dozens of new violations
Five retirement homes owned by the Martino families have been cited for dozens of new violations by the authority that governs Ontario's retirement home industry.
Cathmar Manor, Dundas Retirement Place and Montgomery Retirement Home in Hamilton, Greycliff Manor in Niagara Falls, and Brantford's Sheridan Lodge were found to be in violation of a wide range of regulations by the province's Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA).
With the exception of Sheridan Lodge, the other four homes were already subject to registrar's orders from the RHRA issued on May 22 for being previously out of compliance with parts of Ontario's Retirement Homes Act.
The Martino families also own the Rosslyn Retirement Home, now closed, and Emerald Lodge, which was placed in receivership last month and evacuated by the City of Hamilton on Oct. 23.
The Rosslyn had its licence to operate revoked following a horrific COVID-19 outbreak in May that left 16 people dead and sent more than 60 residents to hospital. The Martinos are appealing the licence revocation and a hearing on the matter has been postponed until some time next year.
Brothers Aldo and the late John Martino previously owned the Royal Crest Lifecare chain of care homes until it collapsed into bankruptcy in 2003, leaving Ontario taxpayers on the hook for $18 million.
Despite the bankruptcy, the families continued to own and operate a chain of retirement homes and residential care facilities in and around Hamilton.
All nine of the Martino-related retirement homes and residential care facilities in Hamilton are either now subject to orders to comply by public health or the RHRA, had their licences to operate revoked or suspended, or have been cited for rules violations this year.
Cathmar Manor on Catharine Street North was found in violation of 22 regulations based on three inspections conducted in August. The reports were finalized by the RHRA on Oct. 21.
The violations relate to medication records, safety standards, maintenance, meal provision, pest control, and COVID-related infection prevention and control. The home was also found to have not complied with previous orders made by the RHRA.
In another inspection report finalized Oct. 21, Dundas Retirement Place was cited for failing to comply with regulations regarding COVID recommendations made by the medical officer of health, failing to comply with pest control measures, and failing to comply with regulations governing drug administration.
The licensee was unable to provide written evidence that medications administered to several residents were prescribed by a person authorized to prescribe the medications," the report states.
Montgomery Retirement Home at 1605 Main St. E. was found out of compliance for being unable to provide written evidence that medications administered to several residents were prescribed by a person authorized to prescribe the medications."
At the Martinos' Greycliff Manor in Niagara Falls, the retirement home has been found in violation of nearly two dozen regulations, including failure to comply with previous orders made by the RHRA.
Greycliff Manor was found in violation of medication procedures, including failing to ensure that all medications are administered as ordered," failing to obtain current and up to date physician's orders for all medications administered," and the home did not always keep a written record of medication that was administered."
At Brantford's Sheridan Lodge, the RHRA found the home was in violation for failing to ensure medications were securely locked, failing to monitor residents' behaviour, and failing to comply with COVID-related infection control.
A spokesperson for the Martino families said these are old inspection reports" from two to three months ago.
As you know my client is in the process of selling multiple facilities to a third party," said Robert Brown, a lawyer representing the Martino families. These are complicated transactions involving multiple levels of government."
The revelation that the Martino properties were up for sale came to light in an affidavit filed as part of the Emerald Lodge receivership application.
Emerald Lodge, which houses people with disabilities and low incomes, was placed in receivership Sept. 25 and is now up for sale. The City of Hamilton, which is responsible for licensing the home, evacuated Emerald Lodge on Oct. 23 and moved the 35 residents to the nearby former Cathedral Boys' School for assessment.
Hamilton taxpayers have provided nearly $4 million since 2017 to five homes in the city operated by the Martinos, including $1.05 million up to the end of April to subsidize spaces in Emerald Lodge.
Steve Buist is a Hamilton-based investigative reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sbuist@thespec.com