Jake and Margaret Dyck’s Story
Submitted to Silver Wings Access Van Inc. - March 2023
This is an expression of concern, from the family of Jake and Margaret Dyck, to address the need for an ability access transport van for the residence of the Meadows Long Term Care (MLTC). The following will identify a couple of experiences our family has faced with trying to include our parents in family functions in our community.
Margaret has lived in the MLTC since January 2020 and Jake since December 2021. On March 13, 2023 (4 months in advance), we called the Swift Current Ability Bus to arrange for my parent’s to be able to attend their youngest grandchild’s wedding held within the City of Swift Current on July 15, 2023. Although the wedding is at 2:00 PM, we were only able to arrange a pick up time at 12:45 PM and a return transport at 4:45 PM from and to the MLTC on that day. There is no availability to be taken to a second location within those hours, therefore the best hope is the weather allows us to spend time outside or that the church will be open the entire afternoon.
In June 2022, we again tried to arrange transportation for our parents to attend a family reunion south of Beverley, SK, a distance of less than 20 kms. We learned that the Swift Current Ability Bus does not have insurance to travel outside Swift Current City limits. We contacted a few known churches, the disability home facility and private long term care facilities and our requests were denied and received the suggestion that we contact the Swift Current Ability Bus (already known as not an option for us). My parents were not able to arrange transport to the reunion held on a farm outside of Beverley.
In September 2021, we arranged for the Swift Current Ability Bus to transport Margaret for a vision care appointment. Once again there was a several hour time period between pick up and drop off. Following her appointment, we pushed her in her wheel chair up hill and over rough streets, and she was bounced off sidewalks causing much discomfort for her to get to where we waited for the scheduled pick up time for her to be returned to the MLTC. Our family recognizes we are not the only ones struggling to transport our loved ones as there are many.
Written by: The Family of Jake and Margaret Dyck
