Can a LTC facility prevent families from bringing in food or vitamins for their LO? I just heard about this last week. First, we couldn't bring in any food and this week, we can't bring in any vitamins or supplements that my brother prefers? As anyone else experienced this? Where is it coming from? Can they do this?
Mr. S was in a small group home, while waiting for a place in an assisted living facility. He was mobile and there was a small grocery store at the end of the block with a bakery. He would go in his scooter to the shop and buy a pie and ice cream and share it with the residents.
The problem was almost all the residents had dietary issues and could not eat pie and ice cream at will. He also bought juice, chips and other foods that were not ok for the others.
He was close to being evicted when a place came available at the assisted living.
The owner of the group home had never dealt with someone as obstinate as Mr S. He just did not care that his actions were causing other people harm. Now she has had to put in place a firm policy that outside food cannot be brought in.
If ur brother prefers a vitamin or suppliment it has to be run by the doctor. If Dr approves, it will then need to be ordered thru the facilities pharmacy. There should be no prescription drugs or OTC drugs in the residents room. Same with food, if brother has a favorite you need to run it by the nurse. Brother may be on a special diet and not allowed certain foods. I have a man, until COVID, that would message if I could get him this or that. I always called his nurse and asked if it was OK for me to bring it to him.
Bringing in food and OTC meds is not a COVID thing. Its policy to protect the facility.
As for the food, there are lots of reasons facilities may want to limit this - food in the rooms can attract insects or rodents, some people are on special diets and the resident and some family members may try to thwart that, in places where there is still community spread of covid19 items from outside may be restricted or withheld for 14 days, and finally it can be a real p.i.t.a for staff to have family showing up with meals they demand be reheated and delivered on their schedule.