A South Surrey senior is calling on Walmart to better-train its staff to deal with disabled customers, after she says her husband was left at risk of a serious-injury fall during a recent shopping trip.
Kathleen McMahon said she and John were at the Grandview Corners Walmart Supercentre (2355 160 St.) on April 20 when a security guard made John use a shopping cart for support while McMahon was fetching their van from the parking lot.
John, 79, has balance issues due to Parkinson91Ƶs disease, and Kathleen had left him waiting just outside the exit 91Ƶ 91Ƶexactly the same spot that I always do91Ƶ 91Ƶ in the store91Ƶs courtesy wheelchair, which he had used throughout the half hour they91Ƶd spent shopping in the store.
When she returned a few minutes later, however, she was shocked to find him standing, clutching a shopping cart to steady himself.
91ƵThe look on his face was one of pure terror,91Ƶ Kathleen said.
91ƵHis legs, because of the Parkinson91Ƶs, the thighs freeze up. There91Ƶs no warning. He can just fall, and has done many times,91Ƶ she explained.
91ƵHe was hanging on for dear life.91Ƶ
Peace Arch News has not yet received a response from Walmart to a request for comment.
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The company reportedly told television news that they were looking into the incident and would be reaching out to the McMahons.
However, Kathleen says she91Ƶs heard 91Ƶnot a peep91Ƶ from the store manager, nor anyone at the corporate level 91Ƶ both of which were left messages on the day of the incident.
91ƵI would91Ƶve at least liked to have heard that they are looking into it and they would get back to me,91Ƶ she said. 91ƵThey haven91Ƶt even done that.91Ƶ
Kathleen said she did make a point of speaking to the security guard at the time, but says the response she got there 91Ƶdid nothing to alleviate the anger that I felt.91Ƶ
The employee simply confirmed that she91Ƶd taken the wheelchair from John 91Ƶ who also has Alzheimer91Ƶs disease 91Ƶ and said store policy prohibits them being taken out of the store.
If that was the case, 91Ƶthere are many ways that she could91Ƶve handled that situation,91Ƶ Kathleen said.
91ƵThe one she chose was irresponsible, reckless. To take a wheelchair from a handicapped person is irresponsible.91Ƶ
Kathleen said her husband holds no animosity over what happened, and said she is not looking for financial compensation from Walmart 91Ƶ although she would most certainly have sued had John fallen that day.
She went public with the experience because she91Ƶs confident it wasn91Ƶt the first time something like that has happened, and 91ƵI91Ƶd like it to stop.91Ƶ
She91Ƶd like to see a policy put together and education for staff so it 91Ƶnever happens again.91Ƶ
91ƵWhen something that is wrong on so many levels happens, I believe that it91Ƶs important to speak out,91Ƶ she said. 91ƵI will not stand for this kind of behaviour. It91Ƶs just not right.91Ƶ
tholmes@peacearchnews.com
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