It took a lot for Cpl. Darren Aulenback to finally speak up.
The severely injured veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces - who sustained his injuries as part of his duties as an artillery soldier and is now confined to a wheelchair for most mobility - has served in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other deployments. He now lives in Prince George with his family.
Since he can no longer be a soldier due to those injuries, he is closely involved with Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) for amenities needed to make the basics of his life manageable. For example, VAC provided the wheelchair he now uses for his daily transportation.
However, Aulenback said he has been accumulating a list of missteps and shortcomings in those dealings with VAC and one of them finally tipped the balance.
"When my daughter had to do chest compressions on me to keep me alive, that's when I finally had to come forward, because I can't be the only veteran not getting the service I need. In my case, my daughter and brother-in-law had to give me CPR, it got so bad," Aulenback said.
He contended that a lack of appropriate medical attention, including oxygen supplies and a collection of medications he regularly needs, resulted in him having critical downturns in his health at home, when he should have been in the hospital or under better observation at home.
The list of his grievances includes having to move homes because the house he originally had wouldn't allow for the wheelchair VAC provided. Then, at the new home, VAC balked at installing proper bathroom fixtures or a wheelchair ramp, and the wheelchair lift they did install was outside where it was exposed to any weather Prince George might throw at him as he tries to come and go every day.
Also, Veterans Affairs hasn't provided a security system to keep thieves from plucking his chair out of the back of his truck. There is no master kill-switch on the wheelchair if he needs to suddenly disable it for safety and security. What he simply can't go without, he purchases himself and then has to try to get reimbursed from the federal department.
The case workers assigned to his file are consistently trying to represent his needs to VAC head office in Ottawa, said Aulenback, "but even they seem to get stonewalled on the simplest things, things that are well within their mandate, and if this is how I'm being treated I'm betting it's how a lot of veterans are being treated."
Janice Summerby, a spokesperson for VAC, said the department could not speak about anyone's specific case for reasons of individual privacy, but she reiterated VAC's intention was to help those who have served Canada in military uniform.
"We can assure you the care and well-being of military veterans and their families is a priority," said Summerby. "In general, the Home Adaptations Program is a component of the department's health care benefits. Eligible veterans who require special equipment, such as a wheelchair, to address their health care needs are also entitled to have their homes adapted to accommodate the special equipment. Depending on the circumstances, this could include the addition of a ramp or a lift, the widening of doors or other needed modifications. An occupational therapist assesses the veteran's health needs in his or her home environment and then provides a recommendation on the modifications required."
She added that veterans who are not satisfied with VAC service, or any veteran interested in VAC aid, could call 1-866-522-2122 "to speak with someone immediately about his situation so we can try to help set it right."
Since The Citizen made contact with VAC about Aulenback's situation, Veterans Affairs Canada announced a Prince George information session would be held today at 2 p.m. "to provide information on who Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) services and what benefits and services are available from VAC." That information session will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion, located at 1116 Sixth Ave.
Aulenback's problems were not confined to VAC alone, though, he said. Northern Health was part of the series of events.
He was in a bed at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. for several days, but he discharged himself when he felt hospital staff were being unresponsive.
But at home he found his oxygen levels deteriorating, causing several side effects that necessitated an ambulance ride back to hospital. There, after a short intake meeting with emergency room nurses, he was wheeled into the ER waiting area where he sat, alone, for more than an hour.
No one from staff came to check on him, his chair was one with wheels but not one he could move in, so he was immobile that whole time wondering when or if a doctor would come to see him. He had to get a passerby to alert nurses to his nearly empty oxygen tank.
A nurse on duty at the time confirmed it was unusually busy that night, and Aulenback was being observed the whole time through a window.
Northern Health spokesman Jonathon Dyck said patient confidentiality must be maintained by their organization so speaking specifically to Aulenback's personal situation was impossible, but confirmed it was a busy night for ER staff.
"We work hard to see all patients in a timely manner, and assess patients on the Canadian Triage Assessment System to ensure the patients with the highest acuity level are seen first," Dyck said.
"To our knowledge, our staff and physicians undertook the appropriate steps in providing care. We also need patients to notify the triage nurse if they notice a change in their health status while waiting to be admitted to the emergency department as they may need to be reassessed. We expect our staff and physicians to be respectful to patients, and if someone has a concern we recommend they speak to a manager on site or contact our patient care quality office."
Aulenback said he would have been happy to update staff that night of any changes, had any been reachable. He was positioned with his back to the ER windows and was immobile throughout.
A doctor eventually saw him that busy night in the ER, "but they sent me home and told me I was fine. I'm not fine. I can feel all kinds of effects from the lack of oxygen."
It has left this war veteran wondering "what kind of system we're running for Canadians if this is how a guy in my position gets treated. I know I can't be the only one."
He said his case is complex enough, with his household needs and his medical needs, that it warrants a case worker in Prince George "and I know of lots of other veterans in the area, too" but Veterans Affairs closed the local bureau about two years ago.
"That's why they have to hold special meetings in Prince George, like that one (today) to try to make like they are responsive, but really it's a cover for how they aren't here with an office like they should be, and look at me, I'm just one guy and I'm all the evidence you'd need to know they aren't functioning for veterans at even a basic level."
