Photo: Contributed
A row of wheelchairs on the tarmac where a plane full of nursing home patients was being transferred from the Central Okanagan to the Lower Mainland.
Anger and confusion over the evacuation of seniors from West Kelowna has persisted for more than 24 hours since many were flown to other nursing homes, private homes, or the coast.
Castanet has learned that the flight to Vancouver, which was loaded with seniors Tuesday morning, was on the tarmac until late Tuesday afternoon. An airport employee said it was still charging at 2:30 p.m.
Susan Tough tells Castanet that her 96-year-old aunt, who has never been on a plane before, was on that flight.
“They told me where to take her, but didn’t have any phone or contact information for me. She has no family in Vancouver – we’re all here in West Kelowna.”
Tough says she has since learned that her aunt has been sent to the George Pearson Center, a long-term care facility in the Marpole neighborhood of Vancouver. Tough says she wasn’t given any contact information or even a phone number.
Tough is now going to Vancouver and hoping to at least be able to speak to her aunt.
“Unfortunately, I am not allowed to visit them and they have not set up any telephones, but I was very reassured that six employees from Brookhaven from my aunt’s ward are here, such familiar faces and consistent support.”
Tough says the caregiver she spoke to told her that those who traveled by road actually got to the Lower Mainland faster than those who traveled by plane.
One wonders why it was so important to move the seniors the way they sometimes did in the middle of the night. Nursing home staff worked tirelessly to carry out Interior Health evacuation orders and efforts continued in Vancouver, where Translink greeted evacuees at the airport with a fleet of buses.
Interior Health’s medical health officer, Dr. Carol Fenton posted on Twitter about the huge undertaking.
Spent most of the day coordinating the evacuation of 4 assisted living / long term care facilities due to fire. This is a climate emergency. This is ON TOP of the COVID we’ve EVER seen AND the ongoing opioid emergency
– Carol Fenton (@DrCarolFenton) August 18, 2021
When the plane was loaded onto the tarmac at Kelowna International Airport – a tedious process due to patient care needs – evacuation orders around the Mount Law and White Rock Lake wildfires were lifted.
Castanet has been contacted by several family members who doubt the massive effort was necessary given the negative impact on residents and families and the greatly reduced fire activity.
Faith Greenwood, whose mother was relocated from Brookhaven Care Center in West Kelowna for no reason, called the situation “shocking and unacceptable”.
“Due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Brookhaven, I haven’t spoken to my mom in three weeks, as per her lockdown requirements. They need a better plan for contacting families if the situation develops.”
Brookhaven Care Center currently has nine residents and 19 employees infected with COVID-19, according to Interior Health.
Interior Health has refused to answer questions about when the seniors will be returned to their communities as the risk of forest fire in West Kelowna has decreased. The health authority cited complex care needs when asked about seniors spending hours on the tarmac.
“Interior Health has taken a number of steps to ensure the safety and continuity of care for some of our most vulnerable residents. Some of the long-term caregivers from West Kelowna were transported to the lower mainland by air, “IH said in a statement after Kastagnette.
“These are people with complex care needs and it takes longer to safely load and unload the aircraft. We are grateful to the Lower Mainland nursing homes that welcomed these people and we are pleased that they all made it to their destination safely.”
Susan Tough doesn’t find this answer particularly helpful and has reached out to Westside-Kelowna MLA Ben Stewart to express her displeasure.
