Retirees pushed out, fees hiked on return
A resident of a Hamilton retirement village was shipped off on a bus and others were told to leave their homes on the eve of New Zealand going into level 4 lockdown, treatment one family member described as ‘‘appalling’’.
And now many can’t return without coughing up hundreds of dollars in extra weekly fees.
The ‘‘mistreatment’’ and ‘‘bullying’’ left vulnerable residents unsettled and stressed, family members told Stuff.
But Alandale Retirement Village management denied the allegations.
Spokesman David Oldershaw said an unfortunate ‘‘perfect storm’’ of coronavirus and newly-discovered fire compliance issues meant residents would not have been safe to stay during alert level 4.
Seven residents were advised to leave because coronavirus might result in social isolation, and the building’s nowcompulsory fire wardens may not be able to stay.
On the day before lockdown, March 25, Bev Kensington was told to pack her clothes and get on a bus because she could not stay in the apartment the 76 year old owned.
Her sister and Bev’s power of attorney, Lyn McKay, received a call from Alandale asking if a family member take Bev ‘‘because they were going to empty out the apartments’’.
‘‘I said no, Bev is not to be moved. She’s better in her own apartment because she’s got everything familiar there.’’
Bev then called Lyn in a stressed state. She said someone had come into her room telling her to pack because a bus was leaving at 1pm.
‘‘To me, she was better left where she was, that’s her home, and she owns it.’’
Bev was taken to a rest home on the outskirts of Hamilton and no-one could do anything about it, Lyn said.
‘‘She was put in a small room with a hospital bed and chest of drawers, a shared ensuite, no TV, radio or personal phone, newspapers or even a chair until she asked for one.
‘‘She eats her meals sitting on her bed. ‘‘It’s virtually like a little jail – she’s in her room out there with nothing.’’
Now Bev can’t afford the extra $632.50 per week she understands she must pay. So Lyn has organised a unit in another Hamilton retirement village.
It will cost her about $345,000 to move there.
Fellow resident Isabella Campbell, 92, said the extra weekly fee is ‘‘unjustified’’.
‘‘I can’t. I won’t. It’s not right – that money was so hard earned.’’
Isabella’s daughter Christina Campbell said the fire safety issues were a surprise.
‘‘We believe apartment residents were unnecessarily advised or pressured to leave their homes, in an attempt by management to vacate the building,’’ Christina told Stuff.
‘‘The very people who should have been looking after my mother have treated her appallingly.’’
Eric Simpson, 85, also thinks the fee is unjustified.
‘‘That [fee] would drain me, I couldn’t afford that. I pay $2183.27 each month.
‘‘For people at my age, it’s a predicament, because you don’t want to impose on your family, you want to be independent, which I was.’’
Alandale’s board chair Bronwyn Smits, did not respond to questions and referred all inquiries to Oldershaw.
He denied residents were forced to leave.
A ‘‘strong recommendation’’ was made they find alternative accommodation during lockdown
‘‘It was a really unfortunate situation in that shortly before lockdown Alandale discovered fire separation issues in the building.’’
A letter sent to residents and family in April said emergency evacuation procedures required by Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) mean two wardens had to stay at the premises every night.
‘‘There were serious concerns about the ability to continue to provide services, including fire warden services to the residents.’’
In response to claims the residents had been bullied or mistreated, Oldershaw said he understood why some were upset.
‘‘In Alandale’s view it was the right course of action for the residents’ safety at the time.’’
When asked about the extra $632.50 per week fee, Oldershaw said it was based on a previous bill for the fire wardens, and could be subject to change.
It was a high cost, but that was the ‘‘reality of the situation’’.
Alandale has consent from Hamilton City Council to build 15 new villas on a property adjacent to the apartments, Oldershaw said.
But the board has ‘‘no plans at all’’ to develop the affected apartment building..
‘‘There’s no ulterior motive, that’s totally untrue.’’