The family of an 88-year-old Saskatoon woman is demanding immediate action from provincial authorities after their mother wandered from a care home and died from exposure in freezing temperatures, calling the incident a preventable tragedy that has shattered their lives.
Doreen Heisler was found deceased on January 4th after leaving the Oliver Lodge care facility unnoticed. Her daughter, Brenda Heisler, describes receiving the devastating phone call that her mother had gone missing as the moment that blew our lives up.
A System Failure
This wasn't just an isolated incident, but a systemic failure, says Brenda. We trusted that facility to keep our mother safe, and that trust was broken in the most devastating way possible.
The family reveals this was not the first time Doreen had wandered from the facility. In December, she was found outside in her nightgown during cold weather, yet adequate preventative measures weren't implemented according to the grieving family.
Calling for Provincial Reforms
The Heisler family is now advocating for mandatory safety improvements in all Saskatchewan care homes, including:
- Enhanced door security and monitoring systems
- Comprehensive wandering prevention protocols
- Mandatory staff training for dementia care
- Regular safety audits of care facilities
- Transparent reporting of safety incidents
Seeking Accountability and Change
We're not looking to place blame on individual staff members, Brenda explains. We're calling for systemic change so no other family has to experience this unimaginable loss.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority has confirmed an internal review is underway, but the family says this isn't enough. They're demanding independent oversight and concrete action from the provincial government.
This isn't just about our mom anymore, Brenda states. This is about protecting every vulnerable senior in care. We owe them dignity, safety, and proper protection.
