Help pours in for B.C. seniors trapped by broken elevator, but no quick fix coming

Seniors surviving successful a West End flat building pinch a broken elevator opportunity that while they’re yet getting immoderate help, galore stay fundamentally trapped successful their unit.

The only elevator successful nan nine-storey Gordon Fahrni House collapsed down connected June 22 and apt won’t beryllium repaired for weeks arsenic guidance waits for a replacement part.

Many of nan building’s residents person mobility challenges, for illustration 88-year-old Florence Rogers who uses a walker and can’t usage nan stairs.

Rogers told Global News Wednesday that she hasn’t been extracurricular successful 2 weeks. Frustrated pinch nan situation, she precocious tried to spell down to nan laundry room by herself.

“I tried going down (the stairs) connected my behind, but I sewage stuck, I couldn’t do it,” she said.

“Luckily 1 of nan fellows from further up came down and helped maine down and backmost up again, I couldn’t move … and I couldn’t transportation nan container and descent on nan wall and clasp onto nan barroom too.”

Since Global News first reported nan building’s woes past week, location person been immoderate improvements.

BC Hydro delivered and installed 19 free aerial conditioning units pursuing an urgent petition from West End MLA Spencer Chandra-Herbert’s office.

The Vancouver Fire Department has inspected nan building and performed individual use checks connected residents.

Trending Now

And nan West End Seniors Network reached retired and has been providing a number of services.

Eighth-floor resident Don Walker, who has lung cancer, credited nan media attraction for nan help.

“(It) conscionable blew everything up,” he said.

But residents are still chiefly relying connected 1 another, Walker said, pinch able-bodied neighbours doing nan dense lifting.

“If you request thing they will spell get it … immoderate group are doing their laundry, different group aren’t bothering. Somebody other will do it for you if required.”

What hasn’t changed astatine nan building is nan authorities of nan elevator.

Brightside Community Homes, nan non-profit nine that operates nan 55-year-old building, says transportation connected nan needed portion is still two-to-four weeks away. Installation erstwhile it arrives, should only return a day.

Rogers said galore are moving retired of patience.

“Get that elevator fixed arsenic soon arsenic imaginable because it is making life difficult for everyone,” she said.