St. Paul's Senior Homes & Services Welcomes Some of San Diego's Neediest Displac...( SAN DIEGO Oct. 25 /- Fire evacuat...),Health

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Fire evacuation from the comfort of your home to the floor of a high school gymnasium or the hallway of a stadium is difficult for anyone. But it's harder on seniors, especially those needing skilled nursing care or assistance with daily living.

Senior Beth Price was overcome with confusion when a Mt. Miguel Health Care Center she resided in was evacuated at 2:00 am on Tuesday morning. "We didn't get much notice, I had time to grab my robe and that's it," said Price. "Then the attendants got us into wheelchairs and on the bus, I had no idea where we were going!" To add to her confusion, her husband, an independent resident, was not with her. Her step-daughter, Lucy Price, had originally heard that residents were relocated to Qualcomm Stadium, but Lucy could not find her step-mother there. Just before 9:00 am, Lucy found her in a small room sectioned off for seniors with skilled nursing needs at San Diego High School. "I was so relieved to find my step-mother."

Lucy Price quickly realized the temporary accommodations at the high school where not equipped to care for her step-mother and other seniors. "The staff was trying to relocate my step-mother to sites around San Diego. Each time it was to a different place. I just couldn't leave her and go to work without knowing exactly what the next steps were. Soon we were told St. Paul's Senior Homes & Services had made additional beds available and you can't imagine how relieved I was."

Lucy talked with St. Paul's driver, Lupe Ferrell, who gave her directions and assured her that her step-mother would be well-cared for during the short trip to St. Paul's John A. McColl Family Health Center, a skilled nursing community located just a few short blocks from Balboa Park. Upon arrival Lucy says she was overwhelmed by the instant attention her step-mother and other seniors received.

"Each person was greeted by a staff member with warm, moist towels and drinks. The
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