The elevator inside the Consolation Manor building in Melfort has been out of order since Nov. 2020. (Angie Rolheiser/northeastNOW staff)

By Angie Rolheiser

Out of order

Tenants in Melfort senior housing unit frustrated after months with no elevator

Feb 5, 2021 | 2:00 PM

Some concerns about living conditions in a multi-level senior’s housing building in Melfort are coming to light.

The elevator at Consolation Manor has been out of order since November 19, 2020, resulting in some of the elderly residents in the top floors being bound to their suites for the last couple of months.

A resident in the seniors housing unit in her 70’s, who asked to not be named, told northeastNOW that something needs to be done to resolve the current situation for herself and neighbours.

“I, myself can go up and down the flights of stairs but it is not easy and then you add on some groceries, it is more of a struggle,” she said. “With the elevator being out, we do have ladies that absolutely cannot do the stairs.”

She said she witnessed one disabled resident leave the building over the holidays but only thanks to help of family.

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“Her family carried her out and down the stairs in a wheelchair for Christmas and brought her back in and up the stairs in a wheelchair,” she said.

She said the latest update from the housing authority who manages the building has them living without an elevator for the rest of the winter.

“They told us likely April 15 so we are looking at five months of living like this,” she said.

According to another resident in her 80’s who has mobility issues, the inoperable elevator combined with the restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic has made life very hard. Residents are also prohibited from keeping each other company as directed by management policies.

“I was a very social person and I miss it but I’m scared to do the stairs too much,” she said, speaking under the condition of anonymity.

She added that she has only left the building three times since November, which has become increasingly lonely.

“I just keep thinking there has to be a way to get us in and out, to do something for us without us having to move out of our homes.”

There is the option of moving elsewhere, but after 15 years in her suite that’s not an ideal scenario.

“I have everything here and at my age, why would I move? If I do go, I can’t come back for my things anyways, I simply cannot do the stairs,” she said. “They offer for us to move and take other accommodations but what about rent at a new place? Some of us just can’t do that.”

Elevator out of commission until April

The Board Chair of Consolation Housing Inc., which owns the building, Ron Olson, said there is a contract with the Melfort Housing Authority to provide management services of the building.

Olson provided northeastNOW with a statement via email that confirms the timeline of the elevator outage.

“The board of directors was advised by management, November 2019, the elevator at Consolation Manor required a complete modernization due to age, obsolete parts and potential failure. January 2020, the board of directors approved management to engage a professional elevator consultant to assist with the replacement.”

The original start date of the project was slated for Sept. 28, 2020. The project experienced delays in receiving parts due to COVID-19 according to Olson, the timeline for the work was then finalized for Nov. 23 through Dec. 5.

Olson added shortly after work began unforeseen complications were experienced at that time.

“On the recommendation of the consulting engineer and elevator contractor, a different method was approved to be used which would require construction of new parts that would take a minimum of three months to have built and installed.”

The project was put on hold as of Dec. 23, 2020 and extended the timeline for completion to mid-April 2021.

“Management contacted the tenants immediately and advised of the new timelines and options available to them for temporary or permanent relocation, “Olson said. “At that time, management received no requests for relocations.”

In response to recent concerns expressed by some tenants, management has been instructed to discuss relocation options once again with tenants, Olson said.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser