Sheriffs rescue 100 year old woman left behind in nursing home in wildfires... touching story

[Debp]

I cried at this....she was left behind in the empty nursing home. She was charging her hearing aids so she couldn't hear the evacuation announcement.

Thankfully the sheriffs went back to check in the deserted nursing home.
@Ritajanice @pepper

 

[Ritajanice]

It says.

Video unavailable
The uploader has not made this video available in your country

 

[Debp]

It says.

Video unavailable
The uploader has not made this video available in your country

Sorry you can't see it. I wonder if a different station would be visible to you. I'll try another one. This one is brief.

 

[Ritajanice]

Yes, Bless her heart, a hundred years old, so happy that they found her, must have been a very anxious time for her, I wonder how long she had been alone for, after they had all evacuated.

 

[Debp]

Yes, Bless her heart, a hundred years old, so happy that they found her, must have been a very anxious time for her, I wonder how long she had been alone for, after they had all evacuated.

I think they were evacuating the other senior citizens into busses....some were on stretchers, in wheelchairs. It was quite hectic from what I saw on the news as flames were approaching.

My mom couldn't hear in her senior years. Hearing aids helped just a teeny bit....not much. When she got bedbound after hip surgery, she later couldn't hear at all. So I know how horrible it is when someone can't hear. Especially an elderly person.

 

[pepper]

I cried at this....she was left behind in the empty nursing home. She was charging her hearing aids so she couldn't hear the evacuation announcement.

Thankfully the sheriffs went back to check in the deserted nursing home.
@Ritajanice @pepper

It's unthinkable to not go room to room in such a facility and check that everyone is out
For that very reason. Elderly may not hear the announcement for whatever reason.

Thank God she survived.

 

[Debp]

It's unthinkable to not go room to room in such a facility and check that everyone is out
For that very reason. Elderly may not hear the announcement for whatever reason.

Thank God she survived.

All I can think is that there was so much confusion....the wildfires were approaching and they had many elderly in wheelchairs, on stretchers.

 

[pepper]

All I can think is that there was so much confusion....the wildfires were approaching and they had many elderly in wheelchairs, on stretchers.

Check this out.
The description won't open for me.
I wonder if this could have been a cause of the rampant fires there?

 

[Debp]

Check this out.
The description won't open for me.
I wonder if this could have been a cause of the rampant fires there?

Our terrain is terribly dry thus we get wildfires regularly. We had rain one night a few nights ago....before that we haven't had rain for eight or nine months!!!

Our fires were spread by the rare very strong winds blowing the embers sideways under roofs and spreading that way house to house by embers.

Sometimes the power companies big terminals short in the winds and cause fires. But this time, the power company shut off power in certain areas when the winds came. But a big terminal by Altadena was seen with a big fire at it's base....so that is suspicious.

 

[Debp]

Here's another senior citizen left behind as the fire was right outside her window.
Thankfully her son kept phoning her and eventually made his way through flames to reach her nursing home. She is 97.

 

[Orkan]

This incident underscores the necessity for comprehensive evacuation plans that account for residents with hearing impairments and other special needs. It also raises questions about the adequacy of staffing and communication protocols during emergencies. While the deputies' actions were commendable, the fact that a vulnerable resident was left behind points to potential systemic issues within the facility's emergency preparedness and response strategies.

In light of this event, it's crucial for senior living communities to review and strengthen their evacuation procedures, ensuring that all residents, regardless of their physical or sensory limitations, are accounted for and safely evacuated during emergencies. Using seniorcarepennsylvania.com to Find a nursing home agency near you is incredibly helpful. The platform offers detailed facility profiles, real user reviews, and easy comparison tools. It simplifies the process for families seeking quality care, ensuring loved ones receive the support they need in a safe, compassionate environment. Highly recommended!