Bars Family Human Rights Case

Mattie Bars is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She lives in a personal care home where she is happy and content. She receives frequent visits from her two sons, Barney and Curtis Bars, along with their families.

“Mattie is a very happy and positive person. She loves to rearrange and care for the fresh flowers that always fill her room. The caregivers in the home say that Mattie never gives them any trouble,” says Anne Bars,
Mattie’s daughter-in-law who visits often.

Prior to taking a cognitive enhancing drug prescribed by her doctor, Mattie suffered from paranoia and was not taking proper care of her personal hygiene. When off the medication, Mattie, a normally cheerful and welcoming person, becomes aggressive, withdrawn and irritated.

After moving to the personal care home, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) ordered her off the drug, overriding the recommendations of her doctor. If the WRHA orders someone off a drug, they can purchase it independently and the personal care home will administer it. The Bars family has been paying for their mother to remain on the drug out-of-pocket since November 2007.

“What if you don’t have the money to pay for the drug on your own or you don’t have a family member to explain your choices?” asks Barney. The Bars family has filed a complaint against the WRHA to fight for the rights of Mattie and other Winnipeg seniors to remain on drugs that help maintain their quality of life.

The current policy by the WRHA has seniors taken off cognitive enhancing drugs within 90 days of being admitted into personal care homes to evaluate the drug's effectiveness.

“If someone worsens after they are removed from a drug to prove its effectiveness, it is not certain that the deterioration will be reversed when they are put back on it. This has not been established, but there are indications that it would be a serious concern,” says Dr. Jack Diamond, Scientific Director, Alzheimer Society of Canada.

The WRHA policy says that residents who are steadily deteriorating are unlikely to receive benefit from this classification of drug.

“If treatments have shown to be successful and effective in clinical trials, then the Alzheimer Society of Canada supports their use. Clearly the drug that Mattie Bars takes has been adequately proven to be effective. Not that it works for everybody, each case is different,” explains Dr. Diamond.

Dr. Diamond says that there is no question that you have to evaluate each person on an individual basis. Each situation has a unique set of circumstances and needs to be established in its own right.

“This has been a very slow process. We’re trying to persevere but it is frustrating at times. A new policy will benefit us all in the future,” explains Barney.

If you have any concerns regarding these or any other issues please email Norma Kirkby, Program Director or Sylvia Rothney, Chief Executive Officer

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In Manitoba almost 19,000 people are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia.