Care facility manager charged with abuse

The caretaker of vulnerable people in a northern provincial care facility has been charged with abusing the residents.

Joe Doucet has been charged with uttering threats, intimidation, and criminal harassment after a nine-month investigation at the Beaverview Lodge residential care facility in McBride. Eighteen people live there, all of them low income, mentally and physically disabled, and/or elderly.

Doucet has been the building's maintenance manager and caretaker since 2008.

"Several residents provided statements to the police, despite fear they had in doing so," said North District RCMP spokeswoman Const. Lesley Smith.

"A new caretaker has been hired by BC Housing for the Beaverview Lodge," she said. "He was released from custody with a promise to appear and has conditions not to attend the Beaverview Lodge and to have no communication with the residents of that area."

The facility is owned by BC Housing, which has similar operations also in Fort St. John, Mackenzie, Taylor, Tumbler Ridge and Prince George. Doucet is involved in no other BC Housing facility but McBride's, The Citizen was told.

"Upon learning of the charges, BC Housing took immediate action and terminated the contract with the individual in question," said spokesman Seumas Gordon.

"We also conducted a site visit to discuss the situation with the current tenants. We have ensured that the site is safe and secure for tenants. BC Housing has met with all tenants and provided an interim employee to manage the site until a permanent site representative is selected."

The details of the allegations will be reserved for court, said Gordon, as the accusations have not been proven.

"BC Housing takes these issues very seriously - our top priority is the safety of our tenants, and we act immediately in any case where serious concerns are brought to our attention," he said.

Smith said that elder abuse allegations from McBride were not isolated incidents. Anyone who felt suspicions of senior citizens being abused in any way should call the police to have the situation checked out.

"Elder abuse is not always immediately recognized," she said. "The abuse can come in many forms including financial, physical and psychological. Intimidation, threats and harassment are all examples of psychological abuse."

If you have any information or know of an elderly person who is being intimidated, harassed or taken advantage of, please contact your local RCMP detachment or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS / www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca.