Tahoe patients moved to Valley

Karen Perry, administrator for Carson Valley Residential Care Center on Kimmerling Road, had about two hours to prepare for the 39 skilled nursing patients transferred from Barton Memorial Hospital after the Angora fire flared up on Tuesday.

The transfer of these special needs patients went off with few problems, a tribute to people's ability to come together in a crisis, Perry said.

"I'm in awe," she said, her brown eyes dancing. "We had the smartest people here all working together, and the process took on a life of its own. It was surreal. My staff took charge and I was delighted.

"I just responded to the issues. I never felt out of control," she said.

Designed for independent and assisted living, the 80-bed center is not equipped to handle nursing care.

Paula Freud, resident coordinator for the Carson Valley facility, said she saw the fear and uncertainty in these seniors' eyes as they got off the BlueGo buses used for the transfer.

"They feared the unknown," she said. "The compassion we all felt for them was instinctual and we all jumped in and did whatever needed to be done."

Dining room tables were pushed into one room and furniture in the parlor and living rooms ended up on the back patio to make room for the beds. The break room is now a command post complete with medical equipment and closets have become makeshift bathrooms. Bags of sheets, gowns, toilet paper and other necessities are stacked in the halls.

Some residents have offered everything from blankets and pillows to living spaces and bathrooms, Perry said.

"Many staff brought their husbands and teenagers to help," Perry said.

Kelli West, a registered nurse from Barton Memorial, said these patients need a lot of specialized care. Lincare has been wonderful about bringing oxygen and they brought two hospital beds for the more serious cases.

Douglas County residents brought osterizers to make the extra pureed food. The Chaplain led residents in song and prayer and one center resident, a retired sheriff, reported for duty, Perry said.

"He wanted to know what his job would be," she said.

Freud said she was proud to be a part of what happened at the center.

"We were a true community," she said. "Even among strangers we were one big family, sharing stories and supporting each other."

Barton Memorial spokeswoman Jaime Aust said the evacuation was initiated primarily because these patients would take the longest to evacuate. They will probably remain in Carson Valley for a few days, until the smoke clears.

Susie Vasquez can be reached at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.