Residents of Porta Place, an Edmonton seniors housing complex, have been facing significant challenges following the breakdown of their sole elevator. Managed by GEF Seniors Housing and owned by the Alberta Social Housing Corporation, the complex has left dozens of tenants stranded on their floors, impacting their mobility and daily activities during the holiday season.
Barry Dove, a resident, has been navigating the stairs from his third-floor unit due to the week-long elevator outage. He expressed concerns about the well-being of other tenants, particularly those aged 80 to 90, after he himself experienced a fall. Dove shared that the constant use of the stairs has been exhausting, admitting to collapsing from fatigue at one point.
Hank Kuhberg, another resident, described the increasing difficulty and discomfort of climbing to his floor, indicating that it could take up to an hour and a half to reach his apartment with groceries.
The malfunctioning elevator has drawn attention to the potential health risks for many residents who require walkers or wheelchairs. According to Nadine Birklid, whose mother resides on the fourth floor, the situation is exacerbating isolation among residents, negatively affecting their mental health due to limited social interaction.
GEF Seniors Housing has apologized for the inconvenience and informed tenants that Schindler, the company responsible for elevator maintenance, identified a faulty processor board as the issue. While they have expedited the shipment of a replacement part, the repair timeline remains uncertain due to delivery delays around the holiday season and postal disruptions.
Bernadette DeSantis, Communications and Engagement director for GEF Seniors Housing, stated that although the elevator had previous issues earlier in the year, all prior problems were resolved by Schindler’s technicians. She acknowledged the unfortunate timing of the breakage and expressed hope for a quick resolution to restore mobility and ease for the seniors affected.
