Burst pipe forces residents out of their assisted living facility
24 people now calling Waterloo hotel home while repairs take place
WATERLOO — A burst sprinkler head at an assisted living residence not only ruined Thanksgiving dinner, but also forced more than 20 residents to move into a hotel where they are expected to stay for another six weeks.
Margaret and Gyula Grabics own and operate The Ark, a private Waterloo facility that cares for clients with varying mental and physical capabilities.
They were shocked when water started flowing from the ceiling as they were setting the table for dinner on Oct. 8.
“All the tables were decorated with leaves and very pretty and (the) turkey was in the oven and (we were) preparing the stuffing and suddenly the alarm went on and water started pouring down in the dining room like Niagara Falls,” said Margaret.
She soon realized the water was also streaming from the ceiling into other rooms and had to immediately evacuate the 24 adult residents.
“It flooded and then we had no time,” said Kevin Bast, a 47-year-old resident of the home.
Since then, Margaret has learned that the kitchen and a number of rooms on the right side of the home were destroyed and had to be gutted.
“We are quite stressed out,” said Margaret, adding that everyone is now living in the Comfort Inn hotel in Waterloo until repairs are completed. It is estimated repairs will take at least six weeks.
In the meantime, Gyula is unable to cook meals as he was doing at the residence so all food has to be purchased at nearby restaurants. The hotel has allowed Margaret to do laundry every two days, which she is thankful for, but it
also means she is up until the early hours of the morning sorting and folding everyone’s clothes.
Despite these difficulties, Margaret said the biggest challenge is not having a large space where everyone can participate in activities together.
“We used to have a little more often, activities,” she said, adding that at the residence they play games, sing karaoke, and have arts and crafts days.
She’s worried that they won’t be able to have their annual Christmas party, where the residents invite their individual support workers and give them homemade gifts.
“Every year for the end of November (or) beginning of December we used to plan a big Christmas party,” she said. “But I guess this year we probably won’t have that party.”
Gisela Bast, whose son Kevin Bast lives at the home, said she is taking her son to her place a few days a week to relieve Margaret and Gyula of some stress.
“They’re sort of like wandering lambs right now,” said Gisela, who knows Margo and Gyula are doing the best they can.
“They’re wonderful … they’re just dedicated to these 24 charges.”
Margaret and Gyula have been operating the residence since 2014 and are responsible for giving everyone their medication, getting them to appointments, getting their hair cut, and providing their meals.
It’s a 24-hour-a day job and now it has become a little more complicated.
“The clients are coping quite well,” Margaret said, although the lack of stability has caused some of them stress and sleepless nights. “We want to please them and make them feel better.”