Kay’s Story
Submitted to Silver Wings Access Van Inc. - March 22, 2023
This is the story of my mother, Kay Tsougrianis who is a resident of the Meadows Long term Care in Swift Current, SK. Kay had been having dental problems and needed to see a dentist on three occasions in 2022. Getting Kay to her dental appointments was a problem because she was no longer able to take care of herself, could not walk, and required a Broda chair (reclined chair) to sit in.
The only option to transport Kay to her dentist’s office was by a wheelchair that could fit in the van used for transporting residents of the Meadows (City of Swift Current/Sask Abilities Access Transit Bus). However, Kay was not comfortable or safe travelling in a standard wheelchair. Kay’s sons, George and Nick chose not to use a wheelchair to get Kay to her dental appointments. Instead, they decided to transport Kay from the Meadows to her dentist’s office on foot by pushing Kay in her Broda chair to her appointments.
On one occasion, in April 2022, Kay and her son Nick left the Meadows on foot to go to her dental appointment. Nick was pushing his mother in her Broda chair. It was a very cold and windy day, with blowing dust from the gravel on the streets. Kay was cold, very uncomfortable, and wanted to turn around and go back to the Meadows. Nick got his mother to her appointment by pushing her four blocks down the sidewalks and across the streets to her dentist’s office on Saskatchewan Drive. After her dental appointment, Nick pushed his mother back to the Meadows, and she was crying because of the cold and extreme windy conditions.
After his experience, Nick contacted the Meadows and asked if there were any plans for proper transportation options for Meadows residents. They said there were plans to acquire and operate a vehicle that could transport patients in a Broda chair.
Kay’s story is why Nick got involved in helping get a vehicle for the Meadows that can accommodate the transport of residents that cannot travel in a standard wheelchair. Our family feels it is important and imperative to have proper transportation services with no barriers for all Swift Current residents.
Written by: Nick Tsougrianis & George Tsougrianis
