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'If We Left, They Wouldn't Have Nobody' (Abandoned Assisted Living Home in CA)
NPR ^ | November 21, 2014 | Staff

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: California
KEYWORDS: alzheimers; assistedliving; conscience; dementia; goodguys; nursinghome
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To: beaversmom

I expected them to be arrested at the end of the story.

Good work guys.


21 posted on 11/25/2014 7:53:02 AM PST by Usagi_yo (Coming events caste their shadow beforehand.)
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To: Nervous Tick

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.


22 posted on 11/25/2014 7:53:08 AM PST by beaversmom
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To: beaversmom

>> be aware, highlight, and praise the goodness that is out there, too.

A hearty AMEN! to that.


23 posted on 11/25/2014 7:57:05 AM PST by Nervous Tick (There is no "allah" but satan, and mohammed is his demon)
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To: defconw

“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.


24 posted on 11/25/2014 7:59:03 AM PST by rfreedom4u (Do you know who Barry Soetoro is?)
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To: beaversmom
Hey Obama, here's your Medal of Freedom recipients.

...instead he glorifies a bunch of millionaire hollywood/media leftist hypocrites.

25 posted on 11/25/2014 8:01:42 AM PST by RckyRaCoCo (Shall Not Be Infringed)
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To: beaversmom

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.


26 posted on 11/25/2014 8:03:57 AM PST by SZonian (Throwing our allegiances to political parties in the long run gave away our liberty.)
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To: beaversmom

**’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!!


27 posted on 11/25/2014 8:04:45 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: beaversmom
How does a nursing home shut down without making arrangements for the residents?
If this happened as written, then, someone should go to jail. Can't be legal.
28 posted on 11/25/2014 8:06:44 AM PST by TangoLimaSierra (To win the country back, we need to be as mean as the libs say we are.)
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To: beaversmom

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.


29 posted on 11/25/2014 8:06:45 AM PST by Leaning Right (Why am I holding this lantern? I am looking for the next Reagan.)
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To: beaversmom

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!


30 posted on 11/25/2014 8:06:55 AM PST by TurkeyLurkey
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To: RckyRaCoCo
Hey Obama, here's your Medal of Freedom recipients.

Absolutely.

31 posted on 11/25/2014 8:08:39 AM PST by Leaning Right (Why am I holding this lantern? I am looking for the next Reagan.)
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To: TurkeyLurkey

Thanks, but have to give credit to FReeper FRiend who shared it with me. :)

Happy Thanksgiving.


32 posted on 11/25/2014 8:10:14 AM PST by beaversmom
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To: Salvation

Well that is how the person spoke so it was a quote of one of the men.


33 posted on 11/25/2014 8:11:05 AM PST by beaversmom
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To: stuck_in_new_orleans

“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.


34 posted on 11/25/2014 8:11:30 AM PST by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem)
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To: beaversmom

God bless them both!


35 posted on 11/25/2014 8:12:57 AM PST by MWestMom (Down, down, down the rabbit hole we go.....)
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To: Salvation

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.


36 posted on 11/25/2014 8:15:49 AM PST by married21 ( As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.)
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To: beaversmom

Another Deep Blue Sewer state success story. Bless these two for their efforts.


37 posted on 11/25/2014 8:15:54 AM PST by pabianice (LINE)
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To: beaversmom

God love them!


38 posted on 11/25/2014 8:17:22 AM PST by Tax-chick (Get out my vegetable soup!)
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To: Usagi_yo
When I told my wife this story she asked "When were the state regulators going to arrest these men for dispensing medication without the proper credentials?"

Why is the media silent on the story of this and has so much to say about Fergyville?

39 posted on 11/25/2014 8:18:55 AM PST by blackdog (There is no such thing as healing, only a balance between destructive and constructive forces.)
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To: beaversmom
Why is it that I am not surprised that the PRIMARY CARE staff were the first to beat tracks?

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'

40 posted on 11/25/2014 8:19:11 AM PST by Rodamala
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