Resident charts trip home
to Slovenia
Wednesday November 21, 2007 -- Jason Thompson
The staff at St. Olga’s Lifecare in Hamilton worked together to help a resident travel to re-unite with his family in Slovenia.

When speaking with a social worker at the home earlier in the year, 77-year-old Ivan Sodec announced he wanted to get his citizenship card and passport to go on a trip.

It was only when home administrator Judy Peck received a phone call from a travel agent the Friday afternoon before Ivan was planning on leaving for Slovenia that the seriousness of Ivan’s intent to travel back to his homeland was realized.

“He’s often telling us that he’s going to do a variety of things that he doesn’t do. He really meant it this time,” Peck laughs.

A Slovenian immigrant who came to Canada in 1957, Sodec returned to his homeland in August for the first time in 51 years to attend the wedding of his younger brother and visit with family — some of whom he’d never met.

As for the trip itself, Ivan says no one at the wedding was sober and that if someone paid his way, he would gladly return to Slovenia for another visit.

Peck says before a 77-year-old man is able to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, there are some issues that have to be taken into consideration.

In speaking with the home’s compliance officer, director of care and medical director, Ivan was made aware of the risks of flying by himself to Slovenia and back. For instance, Ivan, a heavy-smoker, had to understand he wouldn’t be allowed to smoke once he entered the airport.

Ivan remarked after the trip that people in Slovenia have the same stupid rules about smoking as they do in Canada, Peck says.

The home also had to make sure Ivan had about three weeks worth of medication. Contact was made with Ivan’s family in Slovenia to ensure there would be someone to pick him up at the airport, and to confirm if they were even aware of his impending arrival.

In all her long-term care experience, Peck says she’s never had a resident arrange his own flight plans.

Peck says staff members were left with a good feeling knowing they were able to help Ivan return to Slovenia.