Posted on 11/25/2014 7:30:42 AM PST by beaversmom
When an assisted living home in California shut down last fall, many of its residents were left behind, with nowhere to go.
The staff at the Valley Springs Manor left when they stopped getting paid — except for cook Maurice Rowland and Miguel Alvarez, the janitor.
"There was about 16 residents left behind, and we had a conversation in the kitchen, 'What are we going to do?' " Rowland says.
"If we left, they wouldn't have nobody," the 34-year-old Alvarez says.
Their roles quickly transformed for the elderly residents, who needed round-the-clock care.
"I would only go home for one hour, take a shower, get dressed, then be there for 24-hour days," says Alvarez.
Rowland, 35, remembers passing out medications during those long days. He says he didn't want to leave the residents — some coping with dementia — to fend for themselves.
"I just couldn't see myself going home — next thing you know, they're in the kitchen trying to cook their own food and burn the place down," Rowland says. "Even though they wasn't our family, they were kind of like our family for this short period of time."
For Alvarez, the situation brought back memories from his childhood.
"My parents, when they were younger, they left me abandoned," he says. "Knowing how they are going to feel, I didn't want them to go through that."
Alvarez and Rowland spent several days caring for the elderly residents of Valley Springs Manor until the fire department and sheriff took over.
The incident led to legislation in California known as the Residential Care for the Elderly Reform Act of 2014.
"If I would've left, I think that would have been on my conscience for a very long time," says Rowland.
Audio produced for Morning Edition by Jud Esty-Kendall.
StoryCorps is a national nonprofit that gives people the chance to interview friends and loved ones about their lives. These conversations are archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, allowing participants to leave a legacy for future generations. Learn more, including how to interview someone in your life, at StoryCorps.org.
I expected them to be arrested at the end of the story.
Good work guys.
Very nice.
Gave me a boost, too. :) We need to be aware of evil in the world, that is for sure, but also be aware, highlight, and praise the goodness that is out there, too.
>> be aware, highlight, and praise the goodness that is out there, too.
A hearty AMEN! to that.
“Men” is a good description.
Real men do the right thing. These men are a Godsend to the residents of this facility. They probably saved lives by being there.
...instead he glorifies a bunch of millionaire hollywood/media leftist hypocrites.
Two of the good guys, real men who didn’t abandon those in need and did what they could.
I pray they will be rewarded in kind.
**’If We Left, They Wouldn’t Have Nobody’ (Abandoned Assisted Living Home in CA)**
Double negative in the headline — wouldn’t nobody which means that they would have somebody.
Reporters!!!Argh!!
Thanks for posting this. In these difficult times it’s nice to read an uplifting story such as this one.
I hope those two get some sort of hero award for their actions. Because they are heroes.
You did good, beaversmom, thanks for posting; like someone said, monitor a bit blurry. I see the goodness of God exhibited. Can’t package it and send it out; it comes from within. May the Lord bless them with the blessing of Jesus in their lives abundantly.
Happy Thanksgiving, FReepers!
Absolutely.
Thanks, but have to give credit to FReeper FRiend who shared it with me. :)
Happy Thanksgiving.
Well that is how the person spoke so it was a quote of one of the men.
“Reminds me of that episode of walking dead where staff took over a retirement home.”
Me, too.
My wife can’t believe I watch that show, but I somehow got hooked.
God bless them both!
Probably a direct quote. Also, I remember from studying Spanish, that, in that language, a double negative is no problem. It just reinforces what you are saying. It does not reverse it. If the quote was from a Spanish speaker, it’s still a problem in English, but at least it’s an understandable error.
Another Deep Blue Sewer state success story. Bless these two for their efforts.
God love them!
Why is the media silent on the story of this and has so much to say about Fergyville?
Noble, gentle kindness, and compassion? BOOOLSHEET. 85% of those that seek out employment in the government-medical industrial complex are low empathy sociopaths, only there to inflict their will upon the sick, elderly, disabled and dying. Just sayin'
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