Elkhart man fights to get back home after being displaced from Hellenic Senior Living
ELKHART, Ind. — One Elkhart man is fighting to get back to Hellenic Senior Living after being displaced.
In December, freezing cold temperatures caused a pipe burst off the main of the dry sprinkler system at the senior living facility, which led to 123 people including some with pets to be evacuated.
After the evacuation, 86-year-old Albert Beck called his friend Joseph Grimm and let him know what happened. Grimm took in his friend for a little over a week before he was moved again.
"I had to go out of town, and they had to find a place for him to go which ended up being this Brickyard," said Grimm.
Beck is now at Brickyard Healthcare's Elkhart Care Center, but he says he wants to go back to Hellenic.
"It's a different way of living. You're locked in, you can't get out. They don't want to let you out," shared Beck.
What he means is that he can't go outside by himself for safety reasons. Beck tells ABC 57 News he wants to go outside to collect rocks which is his hobby, and to get fresh air.
"They're afraid I'll walk away, which is not my intent," Beck explained.
Grimm shared that Beck would have to sign himself out which he can't do because he is legally blind.
Beck shared that he's not a fan of the food and drinks at the facility and that his saving grace has been Oreos, butterscotch and Pepsi. Grimm tells us he understands his friends frustrations but also understands what facilities like Brickyard Healthcare's Elkhart Care Center are trying to do and the challenges they face when caring for the elderly.
As far as the incident at Hellenic Senior Living goes, Grimm and Beck both say it was tragic and unfortunate, but Beck says "my apartment was not affected whatsoever, it was 100 percent free of damage, but I had to move out and here I am."
Grimm tells ABC 57 he's still working to get clear answers from Hellenic for himself and Beck.
"They haven't been too forth giving. I've talked to a couple of facility executives, and they don't seem to have a time frame that they can give Al and I about moving back. I wish they could do some more."
While Beck says it could be a few weeks before he heads back home, he did receive good news.
"I got some good news the other day which made me feel better. They put my cat in a foster home, and the foster home brought her back to Hellenic and she's being cared for there. She's got the most beautiful face of any animal you've ever saw."
Lastly, Beck's message to Hellenic, "I will be back. I will be back Hellenic, if you open the doors and let me in."
Tammy Evans, Director of Operations for Hellenic Senior Living tells ABC 57 News 100 people returned to the facility before Christmas and 23 are still displaced. She says reconstruction crews will be on site next week to work on those damaged units.