After relocating her husband of nearly six decades to a care home, Bailie Smith’s grandmother anticipated a safe environment for him. However, just 36 hours following his move to Preston Special Care Home in Saskatoon, William Cone, affectionately known as Lauri, left the facility unnoticed on Oct. 11 due to his Alzheimer’s condition.
Smith revealed that her grandmother received a call around 10:30 a.m. CST from a concerned citizen who witnessed her grandfather’s fall and promptly contacted emergency services. Surprisingly, the care home staff were unaware of Cone’s departure, and it was his grandmother who alerted them.
Wearing slippers and using a walker, the 86-year-old wandered approximately eight blocks before falling and fracturing his hip. Following surgery at Royal University Hospital on Oct. 13, his health deteriorated rapidly, leading to his passing on Oct. 20.
Operated by the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the care home has initiated a formal review to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident. Smith expressed her grandmother’s devastation, emphasizing that the tragedy could have been avoided.
Cone had been admitted to the facility on Oct. 9 for short-term care while awaiting a permanent placement. Smith mentioned that a kitchen renovation was ongoing, and a door near his room had been left open, contrary to the only safety measure of exit doors with pin pads secured by security codes.
A retiree from Canada Post, Cone was actively involved in his church and enjoyed sports like curling and slow pitch. Smith stressed the family’s desire for an investigation and systemic changes to prevent similar incidents, advocating for mandatory installation of cameras, patient alarms, and secure door locks in care facilities.
The family seeks accountability and hopes that sharing their story publicly will prompt reforms to protect vulnerable individuals in care homes. The Saskatchewan Health Authority expressed condolences to the family and committed to engaging with them to address care concerns and enhance care delivery practices in the future.