Auntie Ruby
My aunt, Ruby Wilson, lived at the Residential side of the Colonel Belcher Veteran's Hospital for the last six years. Actually, she only slept at the residential side, because she spent all of her waking hours at the hospital. The hospital is a special hospital in that it is primarily intended to be a facility for war veterans. At the hospital, my Auntie Ruby spent her days caring for her husband, Harold Wilson, as well as other vets. Auntie Ruby spent her entire life in service of others, and has continued to do so as she's aged.
Recently, it was decided that she needed more care than what was available in the Colonel Belcher residential area, and at the beginning of December, she was moved into a different facility.
Those who know my aunt believe very strongly it would have been much, much better for her if she'd been allowed to move into the veteran’s side of this facility. The reason we feel this so strongly is that, having spent her days there for the past six years, she knows this facility inside out. For her, this facility is home. She is hurt to the core at having been booted out.
My understanding of the reason she was unable to move into the hospital area is that, despite her being a veteran who served as a flight sergeant during WWII, she didn't serve overseas.
I also understand that if her husband Harold Wilson, who resided in the Colonel Belcher Veteran's Hospital, had lived longer, my aunt would have been admitted to the hospital on compassionate grounds. It seems that compassion normally only applies to people with living relatives in a facility. In this case, the rules are being followed to the letter for my aunt, but their intent is not.
It is extremely sad to see my aunt moved at this time in her life because she is loosing her short-term memory. This makes it is especially difficult for her to fit into a new facility. My aunt cannot understand why she is being moved and is the angriest and most upset I've ever seen her. No one is able to dispute her reasoning, at this point, all we can do is feel sorry for her.
Recently, it was decided that she needed more care than what was available in the Colonel Belcher residential area, and at the beginning of December, she was moved into a different facility.
Those who know my aunt believe very strongly it would have been much, much better for her if she'd been allowed to move into the veteran’s side of this facility. The reason we feel this so strongly is that, having spent her days there for the past six years, she knows this facility inside out. For her, this facility is home. She is hurt to the core at having been booted out.
My understanding of the reason she was unable to move into the hospital area is that, despite her being a veteran who served as a flight sergeant during WWII, she didn't serve overseas.
I also understand that if her husband Harold Wilson, who resided in the Colonel Belcher Veteran's Hospital, had lived longer, my aunt would have been admitted to the hospital on compassionate grounds. It seems that compassion normally only applies to people with living relatives in a facility. In this case, the rules are being followed to the letter for my aunt, but their intent is not.
It is extremely sad to see my aunt moved at this time in her life because she is loosing her short-term memory. This makes it is especially difficult for her to fit into a new facility. My aunt cannot understand why she is being moved and is the angriest and most upset I've ever seen her. No one is able to dispute her reasoning, at this point, all we can do is feel sorry for her.
posted by Nadine Leenders | 1:03 PM
7 Comments:
Aunt Ruby always treated everyone with fairness and compassion. She didn't deserve this treatment. Anyone who is almost 85 doesn't deserve to be torn away from her home and friends. Aunt Ruby always says that we aren't given burdens greater than we can bear but I don't think she should have had to bear this one! Leonard Saunders
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Aunty Ruby is a kind, compassionate lady and spent 60 years with her husband Uncle Herald. To kick a lady at 84 years young out of her home after his death is horrible. She served our country in WWII. He would be up in arms at this state of affairs.
Becky
It breaks my heart to have witnessed the tradgedy that has happened to the kindest, sweetest, most caring and passionate person I have ever known.
Yvonne says
Aunt Ruby has blessed and touched the lives of so many over the course of her life. She has always been kind and considerate to others; it is both unjust and alarming to see how easily she has been ripped away from a place she has found friendship, comfort, and refuge for the past 6 years, due to policy and procedure.
Aunt Ruby has spent a lifetime in service to her fellow citizen, and her family. Overlooking her own needs and comfort while in that service, she has sacrificed so others could feel the warmth, love, and compassion that she could offer. I hope that she will not be a sad statistic and a victim of a system that obviously needs to change. I applaud those who are lobbying on her behalf, and hope that she will regain the opportunity to have her voice be heard, and live in the place that she calls home.
-Cathy Thomas
Aunt Ruby has blessed and touched the lives of so many over the course of her life. She has always been kind and considerate to others; it is both unjust and alarming to see how easily she has been ripped away from a place she has found friendship, comfort, and refuge for the past 6 years, due to policy and procedure.
Aunt Ruby has spent a lifetime in service to her fellow citizen, and her family. Overlooking her own needs and comfort while in that service, she has sacrificed so others could feel the warmth, love, and compassion that she could offer. I hope that she will not be a victim of a system that obviously needs to change. I applaud those who are lobbying on her behalf, and hope that she will regain the opportunity to have her voice heard, and live in the place that she calls home.
-Cathy Thomas
What happened to Nadine's aunt is really unfortunate. With my wife's parents the opposite happened in Victoria's Broadmead Lodge. None of them was a veteran but they were quickly admitted because the lodge did not have enough veterans and needed the extra revenue.
Peter Buttuls,
Victoria,BC
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