WEYBURN – Fred Sandeski, a 71-year-old visually impaired senior with COPD, was evicted from a senior care home in Weyburn on April 16 after 小蓝视频 deemed "too healthy" to stay, despite his significant health issues.
The eviction, enforced by police, was described as cruel and callous by Keith Jorgensen, NDP 小蓝视频 Saskatoon Churchill-Wildwood.
“Today, we had two armed peace officers called to evict a very, very critically ill man and put his belongings on the street,” said Jorgensen. “It’s incredibly cruel and callous.”
The local 小蓝视频 and the Minister of Health were urged to intervene but no workable solutions were provided.
Fred – who isn't expected to live long – said he was given two options: pay $3,000 upfront for a private facility (with uncertain reimbursement) or go home with limited home care services.
Fred said he and his wife Teresa can’t afford the $3,000 up-front cost. They are still paying rent for Teresa in Weyburn. Teresa is confined to a wheelchair and unable to provide Fred with the care he requires.
Fred had been placed in respite care at the Weyburn Special Care Home for a month, as Teresa prepared to undergo surgery. Once the month was up, he was then required to pay $1,380 per month.
He was offered medical assistance in dying and then told he and his wife should involuntarily separate to get a small government benefit.
Fred needs round-the-clock support but doesn’t meet Saskatchewan’s strict new eligibility criteria, which requires patients to be incontinent before receiving long-term care.
Fred, a long-time housing advocate, criticized the government for imposing financial and bureaucratic barriers on low-income seniors.
“There’s just too many hoops and too many restrictions or cost factors involved and many of our seniors can’t afford them,” said Fred, adding that those who can afford to are going into private care homes.
Without a care home bed, he must return home, where limited home care support will leave him vulnerable—particularly when his wife is away. He is dying and is at the palliative care stage and fears dying alone without proper assistance.
“I could pass away in my sleep and that scares me,” said Fred. “I don't want to die all by myself. At least here (care home), I've got somebody that I can rely on. Somebody, where I can push the button and someone will come and give me any help that I need.”
Fred founded and ran the Community Low Income Centre for about 20 years at the CMHA building in Weyburn, and worked as an advocate for people who needed housing, as well as providing a free service to do people’s income tax returns at no charge.
-With files by Greg Nikkel and John Cairns
