By Aaron Schulze

Homecoming

Interior Health beginning process of bringing back evacuated residents and patients

Aug 25, 2021 | 3:49 PM

KAMLOOPS — Interior Health says it is planning to bring back care home residents, acute care patients and community health clients who were evacuated due to wildfire threats.

IH temporarily relocated 826 people from seven communities – Armstrong, Barriere, 100 Mile House, Lillooet, Merritt, Vernon and West Kelowna – to other sites in Interior Health, along with Northern Health, Fraser Health, Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Health Care.

“Many care home residents have complex care needs and proactive decisions are required to ensure their safety, continuity of care and sufficient time is allotted to move people out of harm’s way who often require 24/7 care,” IH President and CEO Susan Brown says. “Thankfully, wildfire activity is beginning to stabilize, and we are able to start the process of safely bringing our residents home to their families and loved ones. Now we are turning our attention to bringing people home gradually and ensuring appropriate staffing and resources are in place for their arrival.”

Before residents, care patients and clients can return home, IH says previously closed facilities will need to be cleaned, transportation throughout the province will need to be coordinated and staff and equipment must be in place ahead of time.

“Being evacuated can be frightening and upsetting for many people and we want everyone to know how grateful we are for people’s patience and understanding over the past few months. We make the best decisions possible with the information we have to ensure these vulnerable individuals are safe – with an abundance of caution foremost in our planning,” Brown says.

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Families will be notified directly as their loved ones are moved back. Anyone wishing to confirm their loved one’s evacuated location can call 1 877-442-2001.