Scorching temperatures in West St. Paul care home have improved, resident's daughter says

The daughter of a resident in the Middlechurch care home says the temperature there is "moving in the right direction" after many seniors were without air conditioning last weekend during a heat wave.

Scorching temperatures in West St. Paul care home have improved, resident's daughter says Portable air conditioning units being put in rooms at facility just north of Winnipeg The daughter of a resident in the Middlechurch care home says the temperature there is "moving in the right direction" after many seniors were without air conditioning last weekend during a heat wave. Sherry Shindruk says while her father, Orest, was "barely" coping with the heat on the weekend, he's doing much better as conditions have improved.

"It's definitely better. He acknowledged that, and I can say I acknowledge that, too, because that's what was needed days ago," she said. "It definitely was noticeable.

He was comfortable to lie down. He said he felt more comfortable in his room.... I think he needs to catch up on some sleep because he's been lacking that with the temperatures."

A spokesperson for Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said in a statement to CBC News on Wednesday afternoon that "multiple large, industrial portable air conditioning units" were taken to the personal care home in West St. Paul, just north of Winnipeg, to bring temperatures down. Shindruk was at the home Wednesday, and she saw two industrial-sized air conditioning units. One was stationed in the dining room, and another was positioned near the nursing station, where it would circulate through both wings of the home.

Shindruk also noticed portable air conditioning units were being put in the rooms of residents. "So, my father had one installed late this afternoon, and I noticed a trolley with more going in," she said. Shindruk says the units are a bit noisy, but it's the best solution they have for now.

"There's still some disruption with it, but I told him, leave it alone — it's needed, it's offering cooling." Earlier on Wednesday, Shindruk noticed the temperature was 28 C in her father's room. "The temperature has come down now to 26 degrees, and with the individual portable AC unit in my dad's room, it is a much more comfortable and acceptable temperature," Shindruk said that evening.

"That temperature needed to come down. It was so unbearable." In a notice issued to residents and their families Tuesday, senior leadership at the care home said essential parts needed to get the system working had to be ordered from outside the province.

They also said they expected the parts to arrive "later this week, at which time the repair can be completed." The province said a replacement part needed to fix the system was expected to arrive Wednesday. "I did check in with the front desk, and they said that the part is not there, but they don't think it will be installed this week," Shindruk said that evening.

The Middlechurch home operates under the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. Two other WRHA care homes, both in Winnipeg, are also dealing with air conditioning issues. The statement on behalf of the health minister says contractors have successfully restored the rooftop HVAC unit at Pembina Place, and as a precaution, they have also secured "three industrial portable air conditioning units."

The statement also says that at Donwood Manor, "a large temporary air-conditioning unit is expected to arrive tomorrow or Friday and will be connected directly to the area experiencing higher temperatures."