CHSLD Vigi in DDO has had to adapt over the last month, after its basement was flooded on Aug. 9 when heavy rain came down over much of the province. Since then, the long-term care residence has had no elevator service because the systems were damaged in the flood, meaning staff, residents, and visitors have had to adjust.
“Since the flood, of course, I mean, everybody suffers. Staff and the patients, but life goes on,” explained Paul, visiting his wife who is a resident there. “At first it was a little difficult, but now you get used to it,” he said.
“I do my laundry at home, before I used to do it here.” Paul’s wife has been a resident for three years. “She’s in a wheelchair and I take her outside.
Of course with no elevators right now, we can’t get to the garden. We have a balcony on the first floor and we can sit out there. Until the elevators are fixed and we get back in the garden,” said Paul.
A visitor, Mark, who did not wish to be on camera says his mother hasn’t really been inconvenienced. “She had to go down for one appointment and walking slowly with me helping her, she could handle one floor. She couldn’t do it on her own, but with somebody helping her, it was okay,” he explained.
“Everyone flooded at the same time,” he added. “You have sloping down driveways, it can happen.” Four feet of water accumulated where the residence and the administration had their servers, storage room, and more.
“We have all sorts of things that .