Real heroes don't wear raincoats: the story of a cleaner and cook at a nursing home (7 photos)

10 years ago in California's Valley Springs nursing home Manor a terrible thing happened. They decided to close it due to violations house leaders. The management simply left the establishment, leaving 14 old people. But who will take care of helpless people?





Two friends, cleaner Miguel Alvarez and cook Maurice Rowland, worked at Valley Springs Manor. They received pennies (Miguel was paid 8 dollars an hour), but the children needed presents for Christmas, so they did not leave this place.



California Department of Social Services in October 2013 ordered the facility to be closed due to violations. Of course, it was assumed that Valley Springs Manor residents will be redirected to other homes elderly, but the management, and after him the staff, simply left. A after all, many of the guests at Valley Springs Manor were lying down and watching there was simply no one behind them.

Miguel and Maurice couldn't do the same. They are practically not After thinking about it, we made the only correct decision:

“We sat down in the kitchen and discussed what we would do now. If we left, the old people would be left alone. We were ordinary cooks and cleaner But I began to look after them - cleaning and bathing them."





Rowlands said there were simply no patients left alone, because many suffered from dementia and could seriously injure yourself, or set the kitchen on fire in an attempt to cook your own food. Two friends worked around the clock, sometimes running home to change clothes and wash.

Their patients were restless - they wandered around the corridors at night, and some even tried to escape.



Alvarez recounted that period with tears in his eyes. Him in his parents abandoned him as a child and he could not allow the elderly felt the same way he felt.

Conditions at Valley Springs Manor were simply appalling. It was unsanitary even before closing. Rats, flies, smells.



And only a few days later the police learned that in in a nursing home, two men, without the necessary qualifications, struggle trying to help the guests. The story attracted the attention of the police, when an ambulance arrived at Valley Springs Manor. Soon after this patients were redirected to other institutions and investigation.



Miguel Alvarez

The Department of Social Services admitted its guilt in that decision to close Valley Springs Manor without ensuring that everything residents were transferred to other nursing homes, creating a threat to their life. Following this scandal, new closure rules were introduced similar establishments.

The police asked Alvarez and Rowland to help in investigation into Valley Springs Manor management. Owner facilities and administrator were charged with elder abuse and they were sentenced to 17 years in prison and a fine of 84 thousand dollars.

In 2015, the owner was detained in an international San Francisco airport. She admitted her guilt in court and was sentenced only a year in prison. The administrator received only administrative supervision.



Maurice Rowland

What happened to the two friends?

They were invited for interviews, and the American Association veterans and the California Legislature awarded them. They also received a certificate of special recognition from the congressman.

A bank in San Francisco opened an account so anyone could send donations to Alvarez and Rowland.

Over time, the story was forgotten and two years after situations with the elderly Valley Springs Manor Rowland went to work for the delivery service, but Alvarez had to quit his job, to take care of mom. A woman was placed in a nursing home when After the stroke she was paralyzed. Alvarez spends most of his time with her time and also takes care of his son so that his wife can work full time day.