The family of an 85-year-old woman is complaining that the health care facility where she has been staying for the past nine months has never given her a proper bath.

Rita Couturier has been in the Auclair long-term care facility (CHSLD) in Montreal since Feb. 28 after having three strokes over the course of 15 months, the last of which left her partially paralyzed.

Since the day she was admitted Couturier has been cleaned daily with a spongebath, which her family feels is inadequate.

"She used to take a bath every day. That was her routine. That was her comfort zone, the comfort of her taking a bath," said her daughter, Lyne Vandenplas.

"This is something she loved to do and now I'm hoping that she will get to take a bath again."

Staff at the facility say Couturier is being cared for properly with a sponge bath.

"We are talking here of a complete bath where we wash a person from head to toe," said Sylvie Desilets, the director of senior care for the CSSS Coeur de L'Ile.

"We wash their hair. It really is a complete bath but it can be done in a bed for residents who fit certain criteria."

That would include people who are at risk of falling or who could be easily injured.

Couturier's family is not accepting that and hopes going public will change things.

Health Minister Gaetan Barrette, upon learning of the matter Thursday morning, seemed inclined to demand changes.

"We have decided to review all the obligations that are imposed on an organization like that to make sure that we have proper services delivered to elderly [people]," said Barrette.

While waiting Couturier's family has asked to transfer her to another facility, one that would be willing to give her baths.