‘I haven’t left since’: Some seniors stuck after both elevators at independent living apartments break down

Seniors in a north Edmonton apartment building are struggling to get out of their units due to a broken elevator. CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson reports.

Dozens of seniors are stuck in their north Edmonton apartments after both elevators in the 10-storey building broke.

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While some are mobile enough to tackle the stairs, it’s been a frustrating and isolating experience for some who aren’t.

The Norwood Legion Manor had been operating with one elevator after the first broke in February. It has been without any elevator since last Friday, when the remaining one went down.

Bruce Harpe said it takes him 160 steps each way to go up and down the stairs from his 10th-floor apartment. He knows because he makes the trip about five times a day.

“I’m 70 years old and there’s people on the floor just below me 92 years old, 76 years old, they’ve got to walk,” Harpe said. “One elevator been out for two months, the other one been out for a week. Now they give us a letter it’s going to be another 10 days.”

The manor is an independent seniors tower owned by the Alberta government, which has specific processes building managers must follow for big expenses like elevator repairs.

Building management Randeen Burr, chief administrative officers of Vista Housing for Seniors, said the company followed the province’s procurement process for the first elevator, receiving tenders and ordering the parts at the end of March.

“However, when the second elevator failed, the urgency of the matter changed, and we received approval within 24 hours,” she said.

In a statement to CTV News Edmonton Tuesday evening, the Office of the Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services said it took “immediate action within 24 hours” to repair both elevators and are waiting on parts.

“The parts to repair the elevator are being shipped from the most readily available supplier to ensure they arrive as soon as possible,” said the statement. “Once the parts arrive, work will begin as to get the elevators up and running again in the shortest timeline that can safely be accomplished.”

Eighty-three-year-old Walter Karis lives on the fourth floor. He said he has health issues that affect his mobility, and while he can get around with his walker, he can’t without an elevator.

“I have a respiratory problem, I have a pacemaker, and I have an ostomy, and my legs just don’t work right, so it’s very difficult for me to get up and down,” Karis said. “I haven’t left since it’s been broken down.”

Karis said he’s running low on groceries because he hasn’t been able to get out and shop. His walker is too heavy to carry down the stairs and his family lives out of town.

He feels trapped having to spend the next 10 days alone in his apartment.

“Yesterday, I tested the stairs or tested myself. And I got down about a landing and a half and started breathing so hard I decided to come back,” he said.

Burr said while the elevators are down, staff are trying to help residents during business hours.

“We’ll go up and assist them if they need to have a walker brought down, or maybe they’re having groceries delivered,” she said. “We can take those groceries up to them. I’ve had a tenant today request for possible mail delivery.”

However, because of the Easter long weekend, staff won’t be available Friday to Monday.

Karis said he doesn’t blame building managers for what’s happening, but he is frustrated.

“They need permission to do repairs and so on and so forth, which I think is a bunch of stupid red tape putting us at risk,” he added. “They have such things as overnight mail and things. I don’t really understand what the hold up is.”

The parts for the elevator are on order from the U.S. and delivery is expected by April 24. Burr said, “in a perfect world” repairs could be done by the next day.

“One more week is, I guess, that light at the end of the tunnel,” she added.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson