Seniors’ home opens doors to fire evacuees

Senior citizens living in an assisted living facility in 100 Mile House have been transported to a Kelowna seniors’ home to escape the wildfires.

“Last weekend, we began evacuating individuals out of our facilities in 100 Mile House given the wildfire activity in the Cariboo,” said Darshan Lindsay, spokesperson for Interior Health.

Twenty-one residents of Carefree Manor, an assisted living facility, were first relocated to the Ramada Hotel in Kelowna last weekend, before 100 Mile House was put on evacuation alert.

On Sunday, the entire district was put on evacuation order.

“Thankfully we had already began making those plans to evacuate individuals,” said Lindsay.

As of Friday afternoon, the nearby fire was at 5,000 hectares and was 20 per cent contained.

The manager of Carefree Manor came with the evacuees to Kelowna, and Interior Health has continued providing care to the patients, said Lindsay.

“The patients are, for the most part, independent, but do require some assistance with daily living, which might include support with medications, or support getting ready in the morning,” she said.

On Friday morning, the 21 individuals were transferred to Fernbrae Manor in Kelowna, an independent seniors’ home.

“It’s very rewarding for us to be able to support the health authority as well as these people who have been displaced out of their homes and provide them some hospitality in a homelike environment so they can feel comfortable knowing that even though they’re away from their homes, someone is showing them some compassion,” said Cheryl Mitchell-Phair, assistant manager of Fernbrae Manor.

More than 100 other IH patients who were evacuated from 100 Mile House were taken to Kamloops, said Lindsay.

“It really has to do with what we were able to pull together in a short period of time,” she said.

The 21 evacuees will stay at Fernbrae Manor until the wildfire situation changes.

“They’re away from their home, but I’m told they are in good spirits, all things considered, and that they’ve been very pleased with the support they have received,” said Lindsay.

“We know how important it is for the residents to be in a place where they feel welcomed and safe.”