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WARNING: The details in this story may be disturbing to some readers. Discretion is advised.
The inquest into the death of Florence Girard, a woman with Down syndrome who tragically died of starvation in October 2018, continued on Wednesday as her former caregiver testified. Girard’s weight plummeted from 100 pounds to just 50 in the months leading up to her death.
Astrid Dahl, who was tasked with Girard’s care, claimed that she provided her with three to four bottles of meal replacement drinks each day. However, this method drew sharp criticism from Girard’s sister, Sharon Bursey, who told Global News, “That’s crazy, and she expects her to survive with these.” Bursey highlighted the absurdity of relying solely on liquid nutrition, questioning how such a practice could be deemed acceptable for someone in a caregiving role.
Dahl recounted that on the advice of her mother, a former nurse in the U.K., she began administering Ensure to Girard, stating that Girard had stopped eating solid food. Bursey expressed disbelief at this explanation, stating, “I don’t understand how somebody that’s supposed to be in a position of caring for another vulnerable human being can think that that’s OK.”
During the summer of 2018, it was noted that Girard had already transitioned to consuming only Ensure. By the time of her death that October, her weight had declined drastically to 50.6 pounds due to malnutrition. For approximately eight years, Girard had lived with Dahl as part of a home-sharing arrangement overseen by the Kinsight Community Society, a non-profit organization contracted by Community Living BC.
Dahl voiced her concerns about the support she received from Kinsight, claiming that the organization provided little assistance in managing Girard’s care. Despite receiving $2,000 a month for her caregiving duties, Dahl argued that this amount was insufficient and emphasized the need for a comprehensive overhaul of the home-sharing system. “There’s too much management and not enough skilled workers underneath,” she said, criticizing the disparity in pay between management and frontline caregivers.
As the inquest proceeds, two representatives from Kinsight are expected to provide their testimony, likely addressing Dahl’s assertions regarding the shortcomings in guidance related to Girard’s medical care, mobility challenges, and rapid weight loss.
Source
globalnews.ca