WEYBURN - A longtime former volunteer and advocate for low-income and seniors in Weyburn, Fred Sandeski, along with wife Teresa, reached out for help to the opposition and to government after finding themselves in a dire situation.
Fred had been placed in respite care at the Weyburn Special Care Home for a month, as Teresa prepared to undergo surgery for kidney stones. Once the month was up, he was then required to pay to stay in care, which the Sandeskis could not afford as they are both on a fixed income.
The cost for him to stay would be about $1,380 per month, or $50 a day. Fred is on a pension, and Teresa is on Old Age Security. She had been able to work for a while at the Wal-Mart to supplement their income, but she is no longer able to work.
Subsequently, Fred tried to reach the government, first attempting to call Dustin Duncan, but finding his number no longer in service, he tried to find a contact for newly-elected MLA Mike Weger, but was not able to reach him at first.
When contacted by email, Weger noted he is in the midst of having his phone and email set up for his constituency office, and he then reached out to the Sandeskis.
Meantime, the couple were visited by MLA Keith Jorgenson, who is the NDP’s shadow minister for Seniors, and they explained their situation to him.
Teresa is due to leave Friday for her surgery, leaving Fred alone. Due to Fred’s health issues, including COPD and blindness, he requires 24-hour care, which was why he was originally placed in respite care.
“It’s a shocking situation,” said Jorgenson, as he met the couple in their apartment on Tuesday. “These are people who’ve worked hard all of their life, and who has been an advocate for people in Weyburn for many years.”
He noted he is sending a letter to the Health Minister, and planned to bring this issue up in Question Period in the Legislature on Wednesday to let people know of their plight.
When told he would have to pay $45 or $50 a day for continued care, Fred said, “We just didn’t have that kind of money. That’s as simple as it gets.”
While he was in respite care, Fred said the care he received was excellent, and added, “I understand where they’re coming from. It’s just really sad when the almighty dollar gets in the way.”
MLA Weger was able to reach Fred and Teresa later on Tuesday, and said, “I was able to talk to Fred just after 4 p.m. and my constituency assistant is taking a consent form to their apartment for signature so that I can open a case file and pass on Fred's situation to the appropriate ministry. I also went to the Ministry of Health office … and briefed them on the situation, and they will be contacting Fred and Teresa as soon as I get their consent form handed in.”
The couple now awaits word on whether there will be any assistance for them as Teresa will soon be leaving for her surgery.
Sandeski founded and ran the Community Low Income Centre for about 20 years at the CMHA building in Weyburn, and worked as an advocate for people who needed housing, as well as providing a free service to do people’s income tax returns at no charge.
