The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, September 25, 2015 | 6 We must do better "It was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life -- the sick, the needy and the handicapped." -- Hubert Humphrey Dorothy Benson's death in an upscale Oakville nursing home in 2013 is a cruel reminder that our society isn't meeting its moral obligation to care for those who can't care for themselves. Devastated by an Ontario Ministry of Health report that concluded that `neglect' and `inaction' led to his mother's 2013 death while in the care of The Waterford, Sheldon Benson is understandably angry the coroner nor the police took any direct action in the case. (See story at bit.ly/1KSalIt.) "It's totally outrageous how the coroner can ignore this and a police of cer can turn a blind eye," Sheldon said in a recent Toronto Star story about his mother's death at age 93. "It seems that seniors are expendable. I do not accept this." After nearly three months of lax care at The Waterford, Dorothy Benson grew increasingly sick from the infection in her decaying skin and died in hospital from problems related to sepsis and dehydration, according to an Ontario Ministry of Health report. She died on August 24, 2013. A ministry inspector concluded Benson's life had ended in agony with an ulcer eight centimetres wide on her left shin, a gaping hole on her heel and a smaller sore on her foot. The same ministry report, dated Feb. 11, 2014, showed police could have considered the Criminal Code charge of failing to provide the necessities of life, a charge that has been used in cases in which vulnerable people were neglected by relatives in the family home. Halton police spokesperson Sgt. Chantal Corner said detectives were advised by the coroner that there was "no criminal aspect" to the investigation. Shouldn't that have been a decision made only after police had investigated the circumstances of the death for themselves? An advocate for the elderly also questioned why police deferred to the coroner's of ce, who then decided the case didn't warrant an inquest because it was a death by natural causes (sepsis). "If a kid had died in foster care from that kind of wound, do you think we would have seen police charges? Very likely," said Jane Meadus, of the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly. While The Waterford was given "compliance orders" by the ministry to x inadequate skin and wound care practices -- orders with which it has since complied -- what is to stop this from happening again at this or any of Ontario's 628 long-term care homes? As we see it, only a nding of criminal wrongdoing (deterrent) or a coroner's inquest resulting in recommendations that lead to stronger regulations for the nursing home industry is likely to prevent this from happening again and again. Until then, Dorothy Benson's death remains a reminder of our society's failings. Editorial L E G I O N S U P P O R T S "Connected to your Community" W E L L S P R I N G 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 53 | Number 77 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 114, Oakville presented a $10,000 cheque in support of Wellspring Birmingham Gilgan House in Oakville. Part of the funds are from annual poppy sales. Pictured, from left, are: Legion members Nestor Yakima, Shirley Stacey, Mike Clark, Chris Ferguson, Joan Skrins and Brian Ray, with Wellspring Centre Manager Susy Borges Santos and Senior Development Specialist Sharon Howell. | photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production STRIDE offers its thanks for fundraiser STRIDE (Supported Training & Rehabilitation in Diverse Environments) is a non-pro t, Haltonbased organization that has, since 1983, assisted people with mental health and/or addictions issues to nd and maintain employment. On behalf of the STRIDE board of directors and staff, I would like to thank Donna Corrigan, co-owner with John Wannamaker of the Boston Pizza franchises in Oakville (Dorval Crossing) and in Milton, for sponsor- Letters to the Editor SANDY PARE MARK DILLS MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution ing STROKES for STRIDE. The tournament was held at Carlisle Golf Club on May 30 and raised $25,000 for STRIDE. The funds will be used for a number of employment-related initiatives that will assist our client group to reach their employment goals. Anita Lloyd executive director, STRIDE CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Still time to donate to SuperWalk The Oakville community has once again shown its generosity. On Saturday, Sept. 12, more than 80 participants, walkers and volunteers, young and old, braved the dreary damp weather to raise funds for Parkinson Disease as RioCan Oakville Place hosted the second annual Oakville SuperWalk. The planning committee would like to thank all those who participated and is pleased to advise we raised in excess of $20,000, a 33-percent increase year over year. We would like to acknowledge the support provided by the business community of Oakville, which includes RioCan Oakville Place, Subway, David Roberts Foods, DRIVERSEAT. Food Basics, Buck or Two, Home Depot, Swiss Chalet, Walmart, Flowers by Dianne, Magicuts, Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Delmanor Glen Abbey, Good Life Fitness, Clarise Chan, as well as the community. Leaders, Mayor Rob Burton, Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn, Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr, federal Conservative candidate Terence Young and federal Liberal candidate John Oliver, who took time to support the event. For those who would have liked to participate, it isn't too late to contribute. Donations will be accepted until Sept. 30 online at www.parkinsonsuperwalk.ca or by sending a cheque designated for Oakville to Parkinson Society Central & Northern Ontario, 4211 Yonge St., Suite 321, Toronto, ON, M2P 2A9 Earla Fitzjohn, co-ordinator Oakville SuperWalk Proud Official Media Sponsor For: The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 or via email to ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.