Wheelchair Bound Resident Expresses Fears After Being “Forced Out” Of Providence Place
By Robert Thomas
A recent temporary resident of Providence Place is claiming people who are living in the facility are being pressured by management to vacate the facility – even when they are not ready to do so. A move which could well see the wheelchair individual alone in their home without help needed not only to get better but also do simple basic chores being in a wheelchair does not allow.
Speaking under condition of anonymity, as the person still requires extensive rehabilitative services and worries about not receiving those services for speaking out, the recent former resident said temporary residents are being pressured to leave because of the Covid – 19 pandemic.
“What I heard unofficially is that we were being pressured to leave for when things got worse,” the former temporary resident said. “They forced me out.”
Providence Place earlier today - MJ Independent photo
The former temporary Providence Place resident claimed he was told the pressure and move to get patients out, despite needing more rehabilitation, was coming from higher up in the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).
“I was told the bosses above her were putting pressure on her (local management) to get us out,” the former temporary resident claimed.
To show how badly they wanted the resident to move the SHA paid for the ambulance to drop the former resident off at a friend's home who is helping on a temporary basis out of compassion and friendship.
“They paid for the ambulance people to ship me out. They forced me out.” “It sets me back. I cannot get physio. It’s cut out my recovery stuff I need and makes my health worse.”
The former resident said speaking out was necessary because it had been indicated the space was needed for people with Covid – 19.
“If they put one patient in there that have it without telling people living there long term what they are doing that is really bad…they’re ill-prepared I saw it.”
The moves for temporary Providence Place residents to vacate the facility before they are ready is having a huge emotional toll on residents as they did not know where they would get assistance to often live alone and without help.
“Other people are being pressured to leave before they are ready to and I think that is wrong…there was this one other lady also saying she was being pressured to leave as well.”
Although there is pressure other temporary Providence Place residents are staying put for now but they do not know how long until they will also be forced to leave the former resident said.
“They (other temporary residents) are being pressured to leave before they are ready to leave.”
Despite the help from a friend the living arrangement is not ideal and just temporary for the wheelchair bound former resident.
In two weeks the person will leave the friend's home and face a life of isolation alone until the pandemic passes. So far it looks like there will not be any assistance and the home is not retro-fitted for someone who is wheelchair bound.
“I don’t know what to do,” the former resident confessed when asked about receiving help through the pandemic.
The early release and lack of funds to modify the home to accommodate a wheelchair have placed the individual not only under stress about the unknown but mentally and emotionally exhausted. This is in addition about not knowing if, when and what help there might be through the pandemic.
“When you are handicapped in a wheelchair there is a lot of stuff you cannot do and a lot of modifications that have to be made such as wider doors to get a wheelchair through. Some of them take a lot of money I cannot afford them I am poor.”
“I don’t know what to do ”
At the present time the resident's aging mother has been doing her best to get the home ready the best she can on short notice.
They have had no time to look to see if there are any programs or organizations (such as the Kinsmen Foundation) who can help make the home accessible.
Upon returning home in two weeks the former resident will be all alone in isolation due to the Covid – 19 pandemic as the mother is unable to care for her child and will return to her home.
The mother cannot return to help or visit due to fears the Covid - 19 virus could enter the home through her.
There has been no word if there will be the provision of any support services not only physically, mentally and emotional as well.
The former resident is not only wheelchair bound but also suffers from other long term medical challenges such as diabetes and is immune compromised.
Asked if there is anything ordinary people can do to help keep spirits up through a long solitary isolation the former temporary resident broke down emotionally.
“That’s a good question. I am just not sure. It’s been such a long fight for so long. I am an old person. I only have so much left in me. I am getting pretty old and there is not a lot of fight left in me.”
Update after the deadline agreed to receive a response, and we published our story, the Saskatchewan Health Authority has denied they have instructed anyone in Moose Jaw to make room at Providence Place.
“The Saskatchewan Health Authority has not provided any direction to Providence Place about a need to discharge their residents in order to accommodate COVID-19 patients.
The SHA has communicated with affiliates about the need to restrict visitors and take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within facilities. This includes measures for social distancing within the facility and following all infection prevention and control measures.,” the statement read.
Referring all operational matters to local administration.