My father has been living in a LTC facility for 16 months. For the past 3 months, it’s been on lockdown. I used to visit my dad every day - most times for 3 or 4 hrs, but since March, no visitors, no activities, no entertainment. NOTHING IS GOING ON. I FaceTime him as much as possible and still talk to him on the phone every day, but there’s no doubt that it’s lonely and isolating. Besides that, my father contracted COVID a month ago and is now in a quarentined unit. He had very mild symptoms (which was good) but he still had it and as a result, he’s further isolated now that he’s in the quarentined unit (an area the is closed off for any resident who tested positive). The facility hasn’t retested him to see if he’s negative. They told me that residents who previously Tested positive are not on the list of who needs to be retested (according to the CDC). There is no end in sight as to when I will get to actually see him. The facility that he pays roughly 14,000/month for has completely changed as a result of this Covid nightmare. Nothing is going on and residents are expected to be satisfied with independent activities. Employees who work there get to go home, go shopping g, and do whatever they do before coming in the next day for work. They get screened but why can’t I go through the same screening to be able to see my father? I barely get updates on his status and I can’t check up on him (in person) to make sure that he is emotionally well. Is it wrong of me to expect more of an explanation as to why there hasn’t been a reduction in his monthly bill? How do I handle this?
I am not saying that this is not wrecking horrible hardship on you, on the one you love who is in care. What I am asking is that you imagine yourself the manager of such a place. I spent my life as an RN and can tell you that they are TERRIFIED this will enter their facility. When the first case came to my bro's place (and I know this because of daily contact with his good friend since his death) each and every POA of each and every person had to be called and fully informed. Imagine what they are all going through.
Hard times folks. Hard for us, hard for the elders we love, hard for those trying to take care of them. Let's try to pull together. None of this is going to be perfect, and in fact it is going to be daunting in the extreme and send so many into depression and despair. We have been lucky in our country not to have to have faced bombings, depressions for a long time. The latter is likely upon us. Let's try to hand in together and ask what we can DO to help. I am so dreadfully sorry for all that all of us are undergoing.
”Gratitude is an attitude”.
my mother is on lockdown at a different facility.
Sorry everyone is going thru this but what they are having to do at these facilities is very difficult. I am glad to see the other posters understand this.
No? I think you prefer your backseat driving occupation. Please find some hobbies and more friends. No grown-up should be this dependent on their own parent for entertainment and fulfillment in life.
You may not know, many Transit agencies aren't cutting their fares either, even though many have cut service some as much as 50%
Additionally the extra cleaning and PPE required to meet state standards, overtime pay, etc can make huge financial impacts.
Last count I heard was that 18 residents had died. My mom has the virus but is doing well.
The lockdown is a huge inconvenience to everyone, and definitely doesn't make day to day operations in a facility any cheaper.