WAKEFIELD, Mich. (WLUC) – An assisted living facility in Wakefield is raising money for a new elevator to improve mobility for its residents.
Ted Ketola, like many other residents at Keen-Agers Adult Foster Care in Wakefield, is now forced to use the stairs because the elevator is out of service.
Two months ago the elevator broke down. Now employees say they are fundraising to fix the problem. Ketola is one of 33 residents recovering from surgery.
“Going down the steps is a challenge, but as far as going up, I can go up the steps,” Ketola said. “I pick up three or four trays every day and that’s part of my job.”
Since the institution is independent, it does not receive any government support or additional funding.
Administrator Cindy Giackino says a GoFundMe has been started and they have raised more than $2,000 of their $30,000 goal. She adds that staff are doing everything they can.
“We applied for a grant,” Giackino said. “Then donations just came in and people donated. We have residents we need to bring our meals to. It’s a challenge for the staff because you have to carry the laundry up and down the stairs, so it’s a challenge.”
Another member of staff, Pamela Udd, says only the use of stairs has become an issue as they have recently received complaints from the ambulance service.
“We have to carry people down the stairs,” Udd said. “People who have wheelchairs and have a hard time on the other floors. We carry her in a wheelchair or simply take her under our arms and legs and carry her. This is very stressful for the patient.”
Adrianne Palm works as an assistant at the facility. She says her mother has trouble with stairs due to previous surgeries.
“She has bad knees,” Palm said. “She had a hip replacement and a femur with metal in it, so she has a really hard time getting up and down.”
You can find the GoFundMe link by clicking here.
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