My grandmother is residing at this boarding home/assisted living facility, which is a privately…read moreowned family business. It is usually only convenient for me to visit my grandmother on my 2 days off. Everyone understands what it is like to be busy, and at times have to eat on the go. One of the first visits there I brought a gyro sandwich. The owner that day brought me a plate for my food and asked me if I needed utensils. I assumed that eating in my grandmother's room was acceptable, I even asked if it was ok to eat BEFORE she offered me a plate.
Another visit I had with my father present, there was a misunderstanding about face masks. Initially I was told that this was not necessary, but the second owner requested we wear them. Ok no big deal, but then it turned into I was in the wrong for eating in her room, ok no big deal either. I won't eat in her room going forward.
The most recent visit, I brought food for my grandma and myself. My grandma was sleeping when I arrived. The only employee present when I arrived was an Italian woman, who does not speak English well. I asked her if it was ok to eat at the kitchen table, or if I should eat in my car (because of the discrepancy of eating in her room). She pointed at a seat at the kitchen table. I assumed that it was ok to eat in the kitchen at that point. I thought maybe it just wasn't ok to eat in the bedroom. An hour goes by, and my grandma is still sleeping. I decided to run an errand and come back in hopes that she would be up from her nap by the time I got back. As I was leaving, I informed the owners that since my grandma has been sleeping since I arrived at 1.
Not even 10 minutes later, I get a call from one of the owners, the woman (the owners are a married couple). Again, I had just talked to them and let them know that I was returning in a few. The owner addressed me in a rude manner and started complaining about me eating at the kitchen table. Ok! Unfortunately, again, one of her employees doesn't speak English well, but when you ask someone if it is ok to eat at the table, and they point to a chair, one can assume that this was acceptable.
Then she proceeds to tell me that she told my aunt that "visits are to be 30-45 minutes in length. If I were to have visitors stay as long as they wanted, I would always have a full house". Isn't that why you make visiting hours??? Even prisoners are entitled to hour long visits, and I drive a half hour to see my loved one for 30-45 minutes? Don't run a business out of your house, if you feel this way. BEYOND that, the visiting hours are 10-6. What she was trying to do, limit my grandma's visits, is ILLEGAL. Any resident of a nursing home has the RIGHT to visitors! You better believe I contacted my lawyer on this matter, and he told me that if I had to get through any more road blocks, to call him immediately. I wish I could sue their asses! My grandma is gone now :) so no need!!!!
Beyond the legal issue, what kind of place does not encourage having loved ones present and spending time with the people who need them? My grandma is 90 years old. How much time do I have left? She has the right to visitors. I was kicked out and told never to come back because I said that it was BS that they have such a short window to see my grandma. No compassion, no empathy, no concern for my grandmother if they would disallow me from seeing her. And yep, it is BS, just like the place. $5,000 a month they get from my family, to feed her horrible food, shower her two times a week (now 3 because we had to ask), and to pop in for less than hour! Disgusting place, disgusting money hungry people. I would NOT take your loved ones to this place.
