My micro manager loves anything that's free. She had a free ticket to go for lunch at a senior's residence in town and spend the afternoon with a friend who is a resident in the facility. This is a facility where residents rent a little suite. They can make their own meals or eat in a dining room.
Now I've written about senior's residences before. This one was better than the last one but certainly had a major glitch.
Lunch was to be served at 12:30 but it didn't get started until 1:00 and didn't finish until 2:00. Now if you've got nothing to do and you're not hungry, I guess this would be okay. I'm sure some people may have an appointment booked before the lunch was complete and they would have to miss part of the lunch or all of it. Probably some people for health reasons should eat at a regular time.
Now I would fault a late lunch on principle. Residents pay good money for their lunch and to have it on time. End of argument. So what happens when the terms of the contract are not met? In this case nothing I guess.
Now the facility had an excuse for the late lunch. This was a holiday week end and a number of staff had conveniently called in that they were not coming to work! Well okay, it's not against the law to be sick. Now some workers may have been abusing the system. The bigger issue is why didn't the facility have arrangements made so that when they were caught short staffed they could find staff for an emergency? All they could do was get administration staff to come to their aid and it was far from adequate.
Now many of our senior facilities are like this one. You rent a space, get meals and enjoy a few social activities and get transportation around town. Most people move into such a facility when they really need it.
I think I'll pass on this type of residence unless I have no other options. I would rather stay in my own home with some assistance.
I think I would want one that you had a choice to eat with others or fix food in your own room. The social part would be the best. I think it is important for people to stay social and have human contact not just via internet..
ReplyDeleteThat social contact has to be organized.
DeleteIn the UK, England, I think we have something similar to what you have described. They are what I would call a building of little self-contained flats. Meals if needed are served in a day room but I think most of the seniors like to cook for themselves. I often think my dear old dad would perhaps like this option as it would keep him his independence but also give him the company if needed. They are warden controlled should he ever have an emergency or need assistance. It's not to be though... he refuses to leave his little two up, two and bit down. :) He says as long as he can manage he sees no reason to change. If he needs assistance, he knows where I am! *smiles*
ReplyDeleteI would think many people are like your Dad and would like to keep their independence. Good for you for being available to assist him. thanks for visiting Hiawatha House.
DeleteOh you say that now Red but when time is not as convenient you may be doing the same. My dad was like you with opinions Then he got ill and could not look after my Mom. He also would not want the caregivers in for her. That happens. So both went into one but paid big dollars as my dad had money.
ReplyDeleteHubby and I have our name down in one now 8 years in town.My doc said did I know that we have to have are name down. The list if not will be a waiting list for many years. Working in one of those places. If you get ill. And not have name down. You will pay big dollars or be moved out of town. I know so many people who say will put name down when I feel like it not yet. Then end like my grabby old dad. Like brother almost carried him in as he is an old crouch set in his ways. he was a guy that wanted his meal's on time. Come high waters. . Once he was in there with he liked it. He never really complained. He liked the attention.
So For first time I disagree with you. Ha-ha You never know what tom-morrow brings my friend.
Home care is not what it all cuts out to be. My daughter in-law was ahead of it. She could not get her fill ins to come. This is the 2014 and they are heartless. Most of them. I worked in one and I tell you. I was the one who went that extra 9 miles to come in on call after doing a big shift.
Wow! You really have to be ahead of the game. They are advertising here to get residents. That's why my wife had a free ticket for lunch. Yes I am a stubborn independent old guy. I am amiable though.
Deletei think we all would. :)
ReplyDeleteThese places that are just a residence don't appeal to me.
DeleteYou are right Red, the facility definitely should have had a fallback option in the event that they were ever short staffed. This is poor planning in their part.
ReplyDeleteI also think it's being dam cheap!
DeleteI think most of us would like to stay at home until the very end, but we must be realistic in that this may not be possible. Did the elders at the facility say this happened often, were they upset? The customer makes all the difference.
ReplyDeleteApparently no one showed any dismay.
DeleteThat was a long late lunch, most senior places around here serve lunch at 12 Noon...because breakfast was a seven AM..:(
ReplyDeleteI could accept late lunch if thee was a valid reason. I think these guys could have been much better organized.
DeleteI can think of very little worse. Awful places but sometimes there is no alternative.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. There aren't many alternatives.
DeleteOh Red I hope you stay in your own home as long as you want to. We were lucky my Mom is in a wonderful place where it is small only six residents and two staff on and lunch is usually always on time. She is happy so am I. B
ReplyDeleteHey, in my home town they have two of these.
DeleteI know so little about these retirement homes, since nobody in my family has ever lived long enough to need one. Guess I should start thinking about it, eh? :-)
ReplyDeleteTake a look at what's in your area. Sometimes a partner dictates what you do as your partner may require this type of living accommodation.
DeleteMy mother lives in one of these places and she likes it even though she isn't very social.
ReplyDeleteThere's a time for every thing. Each one of us is different.
DeleteThis subject has been so much on my mind lately. I'm not ready for anything like that myself, but since my husband died I have had to accept that when the time comes I won't have anyone to take care of me to the end, as I was able to do for him. I can't stay on here taking care of an acre of garden for many more years - though I will do so for a while, until I make up my mind about the next step. But what I hate most is the idea of a monoculture - i.e. living with only old people! I'd love to be able to move into some kind of communal living arrangement, but one with young people, even children, around. I know that thought horrifies a lot of old people, but to me it would be more appealing. I guess I like the idea of extended families. My daughter wants me to think about going in with her and her husband to buy a bigger place where I could have a granny flat. That appeals to me, as I'd love to be nearer my only grand-daughter who's just started kindergarten. But I have concerns about the stability of my daughter's marriage (as does she). And I feel I'd rather wait a year or two and see how things go there before committing to that option. Otherwise, I think I'll move to a small townhouse or apartment somewhere near my daughter and stepson, but try to maintain my independence as long as possible. Anyway, I have never liked to eat meals at set times. Sometimes I sleep in and skip breakfast altogether; sometimes I eat a main meal at 4pm; I do as I please. To have to live a boarding house schedule again would be anathema to me.
ReplyDeleteYou've done a lot of thinking on this topic. Seniors should not lock themselves way. yes they should have contact with children. I would like to have the option you have where children are nearby. My daughter is about 3000 km away and my son is 1600 km away. People are advised to take their time before making a major change.
DeleteI really hope I can stay in my house to the bitter end! I like Chartreuse's idea of a communal living arrangement!
ReplyDeleteWe change as we age. Who knows what we'll want or what will be available?
DeleteI think your own house is always much better, but it is not always possible. Keep our fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteHome is best.
DeleteThat is bad management on their part. It's not like they didn't know a holiday was coming up.
ReplyDeleteI think most people would like to stay in their own home for as long as possible. It's so much better that way.
If we have some support it's nice to stay in your own house.
DeleteYup - I'd rather be in my own home too.
ReplyDeleteI hope you make it.
DeleteI would want to stay in my own home as long as possible. I value my alone time. Realizing we don't get to choose how we go I'm hoping for the best. :)
ReplyDeletePrivacy gives us some control.
DeleteSo hard to know what is best. My Mother lived alone several years. She was afraid at night, and afraid of thunderstorms. She decided to give up her place and her car and move in with my sister and her family. She was not happy there, feeling like nothing was hers any longer. After a few years she moved to an assisted living facility where she had a small kitchen, living room, bedroom and bath. She was there less than a year when she passed away at 89. Very sad. Being in your own home is best as long as you are able.
ReplyDeleteFor your Mom living alone was not pleasant. I like my privacy so to live in someone else's home would not be pleasant. My Grandpa lived with us. We liked it but it was different for grandpa.
DeleteI guess it's something that could possibly be in my future. I hate to think about it. My mother would have a terrible time with that lunch schedule. She eats lunch at 11:30 on the dot every day and dinner at 5:00 sharp.
ReplyDeleteNot only your micro manager likes free, most of the people like it. I too was in that category and then realized the items given for free is not that much worthy. !
ReplyDeleteUsually, seniors residences eat sharply at 11:30 around here. Everyone lines up, good to go! :-)
ReplyDeleteI am a person who is fanatically punctual but somehow waiting an extra 30 minutes for a meal in a facility such as that doesn't seem such a big deal to me.
ReplyDelete