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bookish66 Asked December 2016

Is it legal to have no overnight managers at mom's Independent Living facility?

My 92 yr old mother lives in an Independent Living Facility in Missouri. Last night, fire engine sirens woke my mother up. She got dressed, went out to the hall, didn't see anyone else, looked downstairs, again, no was around. The sirens stopped and she went back to sleep. My concern: The facility recently changed their policy of having a husband and wife manager team live onsite, to one where all staff leave the facility at 9 p.m. The residents are provided with a life-alert type thing in case of a personal emergency, but what happens when/if there is an emergency like a fire? How are the residents supposed to know about it, or know what to do about it? Mom doesn't want me to talk to the management so as not to be a 'trouble-maker', but I am now very worried about everyone's safety. She likes it there, and moving is not an option at this point. Any suggestions or advise? I didn't even know that everyone leaves at night until this happened.

freqflyer Jan 2017
Revclaus, you brought up a good point about a resident who also oversee the workings at Independent Living after hours. Come to think of it, I believe in my Dad's building there was such a person.

One time my Dad was at the ER and was coming back to his apartment around 10 pm. I had called the front desk to ask how will we get back into the building, and she said that So & So will leave the front door open for you. And that person was the resident.

revclaus Jan 2017
I live in an IL facility. Our staff has generous days of and are in the office from 8 to 4:30.we have two residents who are paid to keep an eye on things and to respond if there's an emergency. It works out well for us. It is not attached to an AL or nursing home. As someone else said, it's b basically an apartment complex with 170 units. We also keep an eye out for our neighbors and help when possible. Good luck, but to be honest I don't think you'll get very far. I used to manage apartment buildings and the landlord always wins.

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bookish66 Dec 2016
It's not connected to an Assisted Living place. The lease is about the size of a book, but I will go through it to look for the issue of 24 hour management specifically. They had 24 hr on-site management for years, and I didn't realize that could change. I found out the furnace there had triggered the alarm, but there wasn't an actual fire. I will try to find out more info without bringing mom's name up.

freqflyer Dec 2016
Book, by chance is the Independent Living connected with an Assisted Living wing? If yes, then there probably is a RN and some Aids on duty overnight over in the Assisted Living wing.

I know in my Dad's Independent Living there are fire alarms in each apartment [they ring VERY LOUD] and the staff has fire drills for the residents so they know where to go.

Some times if an ambulance is called, the fire house will also send over a fire truck if there is one available... that's a lot of sirens and noise.

I would think someone would be on duty in case there was an emergency, unless it's a small town and the fire department has a key to the building.

pamstegma Dec 2016
Independent Living is basically an apartment complex. Some incude meals. None are regulated by the MO health department. If there's a fire, you are on your own, like any other apartment building. Personally, I would read the lease contract. If it promises managers on site 24/7 and emergency response 24/7, but they stopped providing that, they have broken the terms of the lease.

cwillie Dec 2016
I generally think of IL as seniors apartments, some have services available on site but many have no extras beyond common rooms and a resident run entertainment committee. Those living in such places are expected to be Independent and able to handle emergencies on their own just like you or I would.

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