Despite all that’s going on in the country right now, there are still a lot of decent people bringing back that feeling of hope.
The California Department of Social Services closed the Valley Springs Manor Residential Care Facility for the Elderly in October of 2013 due to violations, and 16 of the residents were not relocated as promised.
According to an NPR report, a cook and a janitor for the Castro Valley facility decided to stay on their shifts at the abandoned housing, even though they would not be paid.
Maurice Rowland and Miguel Alvarez saved lives by helping out as much as they could during the last year. They told NPR:
“If we left, they wouldn’t have nobody.”
The Huffington Post on how the conditions were finally reported:
The widely publicized scandal eventually led to the Residential Care for the Elderly Reform Act of 2014, which aims to strengthen the health, safety, and security of residential facilities.
After an extensive review, CCL admitted that its decisions had put the residents’ safety in jeopardy.
To prevent such a crisis from unfolding again, the department has issued a number of new measures. It reviewed all suspensions for community care facilities and introduced new training for closure and relocation activities.
“The Department fell short of its mission to protect the health and safety of residents in Valley Springs Manor,” the Department of Social Services said in a statement. “The Division erred in not ensuring, through successful engagement with local partners, that relocation arrangements for all of the residents were complete.”
We’re so thankful for people like Maurice and Miguel, and hope they can inspire others.
SOURCE: NPR, The Huffington Post | PHOTO CREDIT: Twitter
