The story of a hero in the midst of an outrage.
When licensing gave notice that the facility(this place does not deserve to be called a community) Valley Springs Manor was being closed, the managers, owners and almost all of the staff walked off the job leaving more than a dozen elderly residents to fend for themselves. At least some of those residents would likely have died if not for Miguel Alvarez, 33, an $8-an-hour janitor who was just trying to earn some extra money for the holidays.
For two days Miguel and cook Maurice Rowland stayed behind to care for the residents as best they could. This meant changing diapers (the adult kind), trying to feed residents make sure they got their medications and generally trying to protect them as best they could. They did this knowing it was unlikely they would get paid, but also knowing it was the right thing to do.
Here is the whole story: Castro Valley: Janitor saw elderly become weak
FINALLY . . . WHERE THE HELL WAS COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING
How can the state licensing department come in and close this facility without making sure all of the residents are transferred to someplace safe? Those people should be investigated and fired.
Steve, thanks for sharing this story. It’s always so upsetting to hear about a situation like what happened with Valley Springs Manor, but knowing there are people out there like Miguel and Maurice helps restore my hope and faith in the kindness of others.
Sounds like Cherry Blossom Cottage throwing me out the evening after Labor Day. I made an issue out of resident safety problems which they didn’t want to hear. They didn’t have the “balls” to tell me news directly. They called me daughter who relayed the message to me by phone. Neither they nor my daughter offered anywhere for me to go. I literally hit the street with two shopping bags, my MEDS, and cell phone. From their parking lot, I called two friends, one of whom answered. She, now my best friend, offered to pick me up and put me up on her couch. Two weeks later I moved into a new place from which I’m moving to, I hope, my final place.