Residents contradict village boss

Relatives of elderly Cantabrians being forced from their rest home have dismissed claims they knew of a potential move months ago.

Merivale Retirement Village residents were told in a letter on February 14 they may need to move out by April 1 because a new replacement facility does not have enough beds for them all.

But village managing director and main shareholder Jenny Stokes told RNZ this week: ‘‘We have been talking about this move with the residents and their families for some time . . . They are aware that the building was 47 beds and they have been doing the numbers.’’

There were 102 care beds in the current facility and 47 in the new one. Stokes did not return calls for comment.

One daughter of a resident said they had not been told there would not be enough beds in the new facility until the letter was sent on February 14. She did not want to be named for fear of distressing her elderly mother.

‘‘They were never given any numbers. It all came as a big shock,’’ she said.

A son of a resident also contradicted Stokes’ comments. He did not want to be named for the same reason.

‘‘There had been rumours for several weeks and months that there were not going to be sufficient rooms. But the first official word was the letter. No-one was advised of the room situation until that date.’’

Stokes also said the shortage of rooms was not because fewer residents had died than expected, as claimed by directors of the company last week.

‘‘We are not in the business of waiting for people to die. We are in the business of helping people live a fulfilled life.’’

Her comments contradict statements by her fellow company directors Simon Marks and Warren Glassey, who did not return calls for comment.