'Why is it taking you so long to die?': Long-term care home treatment horrifies family

A year ago, Diana Pepininstalled a video camerain her disabled mother's roomafter she said she had a bad feeling about the long-term care facility.

Her 85-year-old mother can't walk and can't talk, soPepinfelt after witnessing incidentsshe said put her mother at risk, sheneeded to be her protection.

"I had to replace my eyes with other eyes, and the camera is eyes."

Pepin's instincts culminated Thursdaywhen the City of Ottawa fired three workers at the municipally run Peter D. Clark Long Term Care Centre over incidents of verbal abuse described as "disturbing and offensive" were captured on video.

• Relatives of patients at city-run care home shocked by fresh abuse claims

It was the culminationofa three-yearbattle Pepinhad been fighting with thelong-term care home, includingano trespassing order filed against her, she said.

But Pepinsaid she was never prepared for what that camera would capture in late August and early September.

"I saw the [personal support worker]leaning over my mombut then Iheard words that just crushed me," she said, close to tears.

"'Why is it taking you so long to die?'" she said the worker said.

In another video, Pepin said a worker looked directly into the camera and said "watch, bitch."

In total,Pepincaught three instances of abuse on camera. When she reported them to the city, theworkers were fired and another worker was put on notice.

"Trust is broken," Pepin said.

"It's my word against [their]word, but with the camera and pictures you have your witness with you."

Mayor 'outraged' by video

This was the sixth serious allegation of abuse against a city-run care home since 2015.

Mayor Jim Watson found out about the video on Wednesday, after city staff were alerted to the abuse allegation.

He said he has not seen the video but was provided a transcript by his staff.

• 'Disturbing and offensive' verbal abuse at city-run care home caught on video

"I was sickened to see someone in their golden years, their dying days, being treated so disrespectfully and bullied and threatened by someone who was put in a position of trust," Watson said.

The mayor said he was outraged by the abuse in the video, but maintained the city's long term care homes are "very well run."

The city has ordered a third-party independent investigation of the city's four homes. The recommendations from that investigation will be made public.