Repatriation brings out the best in IH staff & residents

September 10, 2024

A "Welcome Home" banner greets residents upon their return to The Pavilion in New Denver.

Evacuations and repatriations—returning people to their long-term care homes—are complex and multi-faceted processes that take dedication, compassion and the teamwork of many different people and partners to succeed.

In part two of our two-part story on evacuations and repatriations, we highlight some of the stories of those who returned to their long-term care homes, and those who helped get them there safely.

Residents who were evacuated returned to Lillooet (Aug. 9), Ashcroft (Aug. 10) and New Denver (Aug. 15). These residents showed resilience during the evacuation and during their time away, while IH staff demonstrated their commitment to compassionate care.

Karen Roy, nursing assistant, Jackson House, Ashcroft

A cat peeking out from a woven basket inside a metal crate, with a colourful rope toy dangling above it. — Cricket is ready for travel.

When Karen Roy accompanied evacuated Jackson House residents from Ashcroft to Salmon Arm, she took Cricket the cat along with her. Cricket and Karen made many new friends at Mount Ida Mews where they stayed, and we hear Cricket could make an exceptional emotional support kitten one day.

Gail, support service supervisor, and Kaitlyn, recreation coordinator, Mountain View Lodge, Lillooet

A well-lit dining area with neatly arranged tables, each set with placemats and utensils. A vibrant bouquet of flowers in a vase and a basket of colorful bell peppers are in the foreground. Artistic representations of a tree and a vivid sky painting decorate the walls. A wall clock shows the time. — The dining room at Mountain View Lodge in Lillooet. Evacuated residents stayed here until they could return home.

Little things can make a big difference. Gail, a support service supervisor, brought fresh-cut flowers from her garden to brighten up Mountain View Lodge in Lillooet ahead of residents returning home. Recreation coordinator Kaitlyn pitched in with vegetables from the site’s garden.

It was a long eight days away and all residents, and staff couldn’t be happier to be back home in Lillooet.

Anita, resident, Jackson House, Ashcroft

Three individuals, one seated in a wheelchair, smiling inside a bus near an emergency exit sign. — From L to R: Care aide Elly, Anita and care aide Paula.

Anita had to leave home in a hurry on July 19 when the Jackson House long-term care home in Ashcroft was evacuated due to the Shetland Creek wildfire.

She spent the next three weeks at Mount Ida Mews in Salmon Arm. One silver lining to her evacuation was that Anita was reunited with care aides Elly and Paula, both she had known years before when she lived at Overlander in Kamloops.

Elly and Paula were assisting in the repatriation back to Ashcroft and their familiar and smiling faces brought joy and comfort at a time when it was welcome and appreciated.

Recognition from evacuees and staff

The Minto House in Nakusp, the Victorian Health Centre in Kaslo and Talarico Place in Castlegar hosted evacuees from The Pavilion in New Denver, and played key roles in ensuring patients were transported safely. Many other sites were also prepared for fire and flood conditions, and ready to respond as needed.

Monashee Mews in Lumby, and Mount Ida Mews and Bastion Place in Salmon Arm also hosted evacuees.

Thank you to everyone – including the many employees involved in logistics and transport, as well as medical staff - who have gone above the call of duty to keep residents and patients safe and comfortable during evacuations and repatriations this summer.

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