Appeal for help

By Nathan Johnston
POLICE, the RSL and nursing home staff have banded together to help five elderly people left destitute after their nursing home was closed down.
Edna, Clifford, Albert, Cyril and Nola were moved to the Scottvale Nursing Home in Dandenong in April with only the clothes they were standing in.
Cyril walked in with shoes he had stitched together with fuse wire and Nola is still in a wheelchair in desperate need of a double hip replacement operation.
None of them had money, nor did they have family to help.
All residents were put in the trust of the State, and were relocated throughout the southeastern suburbs.
The few items they claimed as their own have been lost while they were relocating.
The small, family run special accommodation facility they were in could not sustain itself and was forced to close after 43 years.
Scottvale was opened 12 months ago, the State Government choosing to place the five at the 64bed facility as there were spaces available.
While Scottvale has ensured the five have lived as comfortably as possible, the Dandenong RSL subbranch and Dandenong police have started a campaign to provide them with the small luxuries most people take for granted.
John Filmer from the Dandenong RSL’s welfare subbranch committee said the whole purpose is to give them just a little bit of dignity.
“It’s not an RSL matter,” he said.
“We’re just helping any way we can.”
Among the items needed are folding chairs, chests of drawers, small TVs and radios, a bookcase, an electric razor and a wardrobe.
Accommodation at Scottvale is $196 a week.
The basic pension is $250 a week and the five also have to pay chemist bills.
Patricia Lee, an occupational therapist at Scottvale, is coordinating the campaign to provide personal items for the residents.
“Scottvale is trying to help,” she said.
“These residents work in the kiosk where they earn extra vouchers and the kiosk can subsidise some of their purchases.
“Cyril works in the garden. Others help in the library.
“Nola needs both of her hips replaced.
“She has been confined to a wheelchair for months and months.”
Dandenong police are organising a fundraising effort to help the residents and have also contributed some of the items the residents need.
Mr Filmer said anyone who could make a donation should phone him on 0425 756 531.