The owner and operator of the Victoria Villa Special Care Home in Perth-Andover says she has received death threats after the story of Herbert Goodine, 91, and his wife, Audrey Goodine, 89, who were married 69 years were being separated days before Christmas went viral.
Herbert Goodine was moved from the special-care home Dec. 18 after an assessment deemed his dementia needed more care than the location could provide.
We go above and beyond every day and it's really hurtful for someone to say we're abusing seniors." - Jennifer Eagan
Jennifer Eagan said since his move, things have been difficult for her and her family and the residents at the special-care home.
"It really has been horrifying how people have jumped on this bandwagon to crucify me," she said.
Eagan said she and her mother, a senior herself and her business partner, have received hundreds of emails, calls and messages with nasty messages in them.
"We've had death threats. We've had people saying that they wished that we had a horrible Christmas, that they hoped someday we'd go through this with our family. It's been very difficult," she said.
Eagan said other messages sent from all over the world wished they'd be shut down or end up going bankrupt.
"Anything you could possibly imagine people have said."
Two sides
The owner said she understands people are upset about what happened, but she said there are two sides to every story.
"They are reacting on a purely emotional basis and I understand that," she said. "I just think there's a better way to tell someone you're unhappy with them rather than threaten their life."
Herbert Goodine resided in the Victoria Villa Special Care Home in Perth-Andover before he was moved to a manor in Plaster Rock. His wife, Audrey, will reside alone until new, permanent living arrangements can be made. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
Eagan said she has a lot of local support and she feels safe where she is but does worry what might happen if she goes outside of Perth-Andover and is recognized by someone who is upset.
"I've been hesitant to bring the police into it because I don't know what they could possibly do," she said.
Eagan said it's been disappointing and upsetting to read and hear the messages about a situation they had no control over.
"We take good care of our residents. We go above and beyond every day and it's really hurtful for someone to say we're abusing seniors," she said.
Post not meant to criticize villa
Herbert Goodine's daughter, Dianne Phillips said Friday it was never her intention for the Victoria Villa to take the criticism they've had to take.
Philips' status on Facebook about her father being moved went viral after being posted Dec. 17.
Dianne Phillips, the daughter of Herbert Goodine, says she it was not her intent for the villa to be criticized over her father's move. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
"My intention was to totally focus on the flawed system that seemed to be a blanket policy," she said. "And you know, it just allows seniors to be picked up and moved with barely a chance to say goodbye to the friends that are in that home."
Herbert Goodine is now at the Tobique Valley Manor in Plaster Rock, a 30-minute drive from his wife.
Phillips said her father will stay there for the next 30 days until the family can find a new permanent living arrangement for both her parents. They will be spending Christmas with her in Fredericton.
Eagan said she just wished people would realize there are two sides to every story.
"Most people must realize that," Eagan said. "Nobody ever wants to have to make this decision, not me or social development."
More collaboration needed
Judy Lane, CEO at Kings Way Care Centre in Quispamsis. said situations like this are challenging for all involved which is why she would support more collaboration between all levels of care to work together.
"We unfortunately operate in a continuum of care that's siloed and difficult to navigate through the different silos with home care, special care and nursing home," she said.
Lane said more collaboration and education for families could maybe produce different and better outcomes for families who deal with it.
"Usually a family is only presented with a situation when generally there is a crisis and then they have to react and it creates a lot of stress," she said.
Lane said she is hopeful the province will begin looking at ways all levels of care can work together.
"Our seniors deserve the utmost respect and care and we need to remember that they are the people that our focus should be on," she said. "It shouldn't just be focused on the process and rules, it should be about the person and what's important to them."
