Disabled adults and families devastated by province's proposed group home closures
Lynette Pollard-Elgert remembers the shock she received four weeks ago when she was told that her developmentally disabled daughter, Rory, would soon have to find a new home. The group home in Richmond where Rory had lived for the last 20 years was reportedly going to be shut down due to funding cuts.
"I was shocked. I was speechless," Pollard-Elgert said.
Rory, 41, has an IQ of around 70, the mental capacity of a four-year-old. She lives with three other roommates with developmental disabilities in a group home run by Community Living BC on Williams Road, with on-site staff who provide daily care.
Since the announcement, Pollard-Elgert and her partner, Cheryl Bucar, have joined other advocacy groups to keep open a housing option which they see as being the most suitable home for Rory.
"My daughter and the other residents are freaking out," said Pollard-Egert. "They don't want to move."
Group home closures
And where will Rory go if her Williams Road home is closed?
According to Pollard-Elgert, Community Living B.C. suggested that she be taken into a "shared home". Although there are several forms of shared home living, the common practice for someone at Rory's level is for a developmentally disabled adult to be taken in by a foster home and cared for by a family. It is believed to be a less costly method of care. According to then-Housing Minister Rich Coleman, group homes cost $100,000 per client to operate per year, whereas shared housing arrangements cost around $40,000) which works well for some disabled adults.
It's an option that Pollard-Elgert is not willing to consider.
"Rory was in a home share in Alberta before. She lost 20 pounds and had severe depression," she recalled. "(The foster family) was a single mom and her daughter. She was treated badly. To tell you the truth, I think they just brought Rory in to make a little extra money."
At 65, Pollard-Elgert is not in a condition to be taking on her adult daughter in the event of a home closure. She expressed frustration that CLBC had announced the decision to close the group home "like a fait accompli," and perceives the government's lack of response to the issue as a form of "prejudice" against her daughter's disabilities.
"Our most vulnerable people are being treated like throwaways," she said. "Rory is very involved in the community, she does volunteer work, she is a special Olympian and has won many medals -- all of the residents do something. It's unfair."
Matching needs with services
According to CLBC, however, moving adults to the group home closures is about offering a different style of living for the residents.
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It looks like Paul Sibley doesn't really know what he is talking about. Residents ARE being moved AGAINST their wishes and the wishes of their families despite what the minister responsible for clbc says. When clbc executives and facillitators say they negotiate with the companies who have a contracts to support group home residents, what they really mean is they PRETEND to negotiate with them. Just like they PRETEND to be sympathetic when they see how stressfull and devastating it is for these families. And then they Pretend to give these families a choice to where they will go when they are FORCED out of their home. It's a sad state of affairs when those who are in a position to make life a little easier for these families choose to add to their burdens instead. It makes one wonder what they have in mind next to help the developmentally delayed have a full and meaningful life. Maybe putting them all on an island somewhere to fend for themselves, do ya think?
There's a saying that society can be judged by how it treats its weakest. BC is obviously treating poorly people who cannot speak up for themselves. C'mon, Christy Clark, it's bad enough that these parents through no fault of their own had children with serious disabilities. That alone is tough to deal with for any parent. Why don't you support them instead of kicking sand into their face??
I have worked in this field with special needs for 8 years plus. I have sat with families who in the 50's to 70's were told to place thier children in insitutions!! I have heard thier pain and sorrow. I have cared for thier children in thier community and witnessed the quality if not quanity of life they have been given since they left the institutions!! These parents were never given a choice to keep thier chidren at home, not only did they not have the tools, support and funding they did not have choice. I have heard the horror stories of the abuse and seen the scars. I supported our special needs community thru group homes, day programs, work programs and living on thier own. They were intregrated into the community with love and support of many workers. They had a normal life, even married, held jobs, holidays, commitments, and happiness. I have also seen the cutbacks how they have taken our aging special needs and changed once again thier lives and some did not survive the change either mentally or physically. The government needs a wake up call these people give unconditionally to our communities with love and pride. What right do you have to take our aging parents and yet throw another bomb into thier lives. Most of these parents were settled and happy and having healthy loving relationships with these children. Now you have the audacity to throw the fear of thier happy children once again being demoralized all for the almighty dollar!! Give me 10 politicians and give them one special needs child and see how well then endure the worries and stress of seeing these children survive in this world. Bet they would soon change thier stands on supporting them to the best that is for them. I am disgusted once again by the lack of support and humanity they represent!! So very sad, our special needs community has taught me so much and not once has the government taught me anything but fear and disgust.
If you don't have a family member with a disability, you likely know someone who does and it's just a matter of time before YOU will become disabled. We know that as we age and if we make it past 65, the majority of us will develop at least one chronic debilitating illness that will classify us as disabled - that's Arthritis and Alzheimers and Parkinson's and Stroke and all of those diseases that change our ability to function within a world that is designed for the 'abled', verbally, physically and intellectually. This is not a story about 'them'. This affects us all directly and indirectly. The decisions that are being made now to eliminate support that ensure quality of life for those most vulnerable in our communities will impact most of us if not now, then in the not too distant future. How do you want to be treated when you can no longer care for yourself? What do you expect of your parents, children, siblings and spouses should you no longer be able to care for yourself? What would you want for them? Share your voice on this issue. You are a voter and your voice counts.
To quote Sibley. "This is all about matching up the needs of services in ways that people need them. We would still be reallocating funds because we wouldn't support people in ways they don't need."
As a community it is our responsibility to look after the more vulnerable people in our society. Perhaps there is some justification for some developmentally disabled people to be introduced to a different environment, if it is in their BEST INTERESTS and has the support of their families and caregivers. That certainly doesn't sound like the case in the decision to close the Williams Road Group Home for Rory and her room mates or their families. They are currently supported in ways they need and the decision to close their home is a social injustice with seemingly no regard for the human cost. It seems to me that Sibley needs to look at an alternate "service redesign" to balance the budget.
Don't believe what they say,yes they have and will continue to close grouphomes without considering the client or their needs and NO it doesn't matter what is the best for the resident. Its about $$$$$$$$$$.. Not everyone can/will fit into a homeshare model. People with high needs N E E D a grouphome as BURNOUT will occur very quickly for the caregiver and the client will be the one to suffer as the homeshare people keep collecting their $$$.But the Gov. doesn't care ,OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND.
I have been in and is still in the field for 30years now and have seen MUCH!!!!!! THIS IS A BAD MOVE. But they (the gov.) doesn't care and will do what they WANT not WHAT IS THE BEST for the client.
And what about the RIGHTS of the client. That is taken away thanks to our gov. who keeps cutting back in our sector and and WASTING our money else where.
It is TIME to stand up in Canada to what IS RIGHT instead of accepting how the gov. wants to destroy Canada and we the people that live and pay heavy taxes, how we want our country ran.
KEEP UP THE FIGHT!!!!!
I agree with many of the comments already made regarding this story. The closure of group homes, without having better, more affordable, options in place, is unfair to the residents of the homes and to their families. For many of the residents, these group settings have become their homes, and they are receiving the support they need to be a part of their community.
Home share, which seems to be the major alternative proposed by CLBC, won't work for adults who need 24 hour care and support. Most families wanting to share their homes with adults with developmental disaiblities, despite their best intentions, will not have the experience or skills needed to address behavioural and other issues.
Let's not rush into group home closures without proper investigation and discussion with residents and their families about what is best for them.
Group homes fill an important need in our socially-conscious society. We have the moral obligation to help those most vulnerable in the best way we can, and by doing so it means a richer life for both the adult and, in fact, all of our society. The impacts - both positive and negative - are far reaching and we must look at this issue in a broader, longer-term context.
When Riverview Institution was mostly closed down we were promised that group homes were the better solution and that these would be built. (In California it had already proved to be a flawed model). To the contrary, this did not happen and our shameful homelessness statistics have soared.
These adults are living productive lives which positively impact on our society. Leave them where they are - we have a moral and a real obligation to do so.
War is peace. HST is fair taxation. Group home closures are wonderful. My advice to all observers not aware of the truth is do not drink the kool-aid from the CLBC and the BC government.
The fact that underfunding and undervaluing the most vulnerable is business as usual in any society that caters to the corporate and upper class interests is not new. But to put lipstick on a pig does not make it more attractive.
Sure, when the BC Ferries have huge issues and the service effects you personally, you get angry. The cost, the waits, the fat cats getting rich and the workers laid off. But wait, it is better run now than ever before. Ain't it great?
The truth will set you free - they do not care about you. They do not care about Rory, her mother, the group home success, the fallout from their decisions nor the public reaction. They have their marching orders and will carry them out. Just smile and wave,smile and wave until the job is done.
Only a fully caring and informed public will change this reality. Gord Campbell found that out in the HST debacle. I wait for the day when we all get off our duffs and demand our rights or the alternative - when it is my turn to be personally effected.
The only question is will your turn come before mine.
I have been fortunate to know Rory and her family for over 20 years and she is an amazing woman who brings joy to her family and friends in so many ways. She is a real human being, who loves her family and brings them joy with her endearing smile, the twinkle in her eye when she's being playful and her ongoing kindness for all living things. But Rory needs more help than the average person and we all should care because all too soon, most of us will face similar challenges as our world changes. The support Rory has received until now in her group home has given her the life many of us take for granted and I challenge everyone to consider just for a moment, what a tremendous mistake this would be to take this away from her and her other disabled friends. Please care enough to make the right decision for Rory and others like her as they are family and family must come first, above everything else!
Read it on Global News: Global BC | Closing doors of group homes shock, horrify families
Our family is going through this same experience right now so we understand how you are feeling. Our son and two other residents of his group home are being FORCED to move to another home run by a company with questionable business practices. This has been quite an eye opener for our family to see how this all has taken place. The word "choice" has never really been a part of this situation, unless there's another meaning of that word we are not aware of. There has been alot of pressure on us to agree with the decision to make this move and someone is in a big hurry to get this done. We have an uneasy feeling about this, and wonder what the people in power will do when they have another scandal on their hands as a result of not learning from the past. Is anyone out there listening?
“Mans inhumanity to man”!! Shame……shame ………….shame on all that promote this horrific decision to up-root these beautiful vulnerable members of our human family! I write these comments in support of Lynette Pollard-Elgert , Cheryl Bucar and their wonderful daughter Rory who I have the privilege of knowing. The caregivers at Rory’s group home have, over the past 20 years, given her the dignity and respect that each and every one of us deserve as human beings. How does anyone have the right to assign a “value” to another person? Rory works hard and does her very best to be a contributor to her community through volunteering her time and strives to improve herself through a healthy and active athletic lifestyle. It is due to the encouragement and support of her parents and her group-home family that she is able to pursue a balanced life. Actually she asks very little of life….she gives so much more than she takes…she does the best with what she’s got. Her motives are simple and pure. She is in effect a child that relies on society to protect and love her…and we as a society have the responsibility to do just that! Separating Rory from her group- home family, which normalizes her as an individual, could totally crush the spirit of this very precious little person. I could not live with myself if I was the one responsible for closing the door to the Williams Road Home. Closing that door closes the beliefs and trusts in humanity that people like Rory have…beliefs that big people care, beliefs that she is safe, beliefs that she will continue to have the reassuring bond of her friends that she has grown to know as her family. Yes, Mr. Sibley, you are right when you say that “Different people have different needs”. Lynette Pollard- Elgert, Cheryl Bucar and Rory have a need to be sincerely listened to and treated with the respect that they have earned. They deserve the right of individual consultation…they deserve the right to protest any decisions that will negatively impact their child…they deserve the right to protect the core of their lives…that is, their family….because indeed, families come first….right Premier Clark?
Decision-makers… you must find a way to do the right thing!
It is with much chagrin and total horror that we watch the British Columbian government pay no heed to the logics of ethical behaviour when dealing with the less fortunate. Alberta's streets are full of the poor, the weak and the less fortunate. We are struggling with the treatment of the mentally challenged and we can not sit by and let our governments treat them unfairly, unethically and without foreward thinking. They need love, support and encouragement just as the majority of Canadians enjoy in normal family environments. Future planning and unbiased decisions in government must come before unthoughtful and off the cuff decisions.
Not long ago people were outraged at the cruel and inhuman treatment of sled dogs in the Whistler area, and rightly so!!! I read that this happened because someone thought it was cost effective. It would be good to see that same feeling of outrage when we witness how the disabled are being treated for the same reason. (It's cost effective.)
I've known Rory, Lynette and Cheryl for over thirty years and remember Rory as a child. Rory was fun and loving most of the time but at other times she could be quite a handful for her parents. I have experienced working with challenged individuals at Deerhome in Red Deer prior to attending college and know their needs are quite different from most people. Well trained staff have the best chance of helping these individuals to do their best in life. Cut backs are a part of life these days, it seems, but some things should have more priority than others. I see what cut backs have done for the mentally handicapped in Alberta daily as I look out onto the street from my place of business. I would wish better for you Rory!
Does anyone remember CareNet and who the players were? Interesting reading.
I think we can feel sorry for Minister Harry Bloy. No wonder he didn't want to speak to the press. CLBC probably told him so many conflicting stories, he didn't know which ones to believe or repeat. It would be nice to see someone really listen to what families are saying and answer their questions with language we all could understand.
I am very saddened to read of this truly cold hearted move being executed. So many people's lives are being negatively affected by these closures.
Whatever cost-saving Paul Sibley figures will come from this will just bring expenses in other areas as people who are forcibly moved from secure, familiar, routined environments are put into the chaos of trying to find something else that fits and end up needing support for years to come because of the life disruption. What was already working for them being so rudely and cruely taken away.
You cannot just uproot these people and expect them to plop down and just keep going like it never happened. It often takes years to settle into a new environment and routine and sometimes, as in Rory's previous experience, it just doesn't happen and they must again be uprooted and keep searching for the place that fits. The people whose lives are being thrust into upheaval have Already found the place that fits! Why put them through this trauma for a few dollars potentially saved now. That's very short term thinking, for such a long term issue.