Can a SNF deny family from bringing in food?

I had to have a doctor prescribe the exact brand of vitamins for my dad for the facility to allow me to bring them in.

My MIL's facility allowed me to provide Mannose-D to help prevent UTIs. I had a lengthy phone conversation with the managing nurse and provided clinical support and dosage recommendation. MIL pays for it out of her SS and the facility contacts me when they're low. I'm not sure why your brother's facility except if they are in covid lock-down/quarantine they don't want anything brought in that isn't "necessary". Anything we brought in had to be quarantined for at least 24 hrs, and no food.

Yes, supplements will need to be prescribed, just because something is "natural" doesn't mean it may not have unintended side effects so the facility needs to know everything that is being taken.

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.

Yes, they can disallow food and supplements which have to be prescribed by doc.

Yes, they can turn away food and OTC meds. Your LO is now under their doctor's care. (Unless, you r allowed to have your own) No OTC drugs can be brought in. They need to be prescribed by the attending doctor. OTCs can react with other meds. It also needs to be charted what medications they are on. Family members are always discouraged from bringing any type of medication from the outside. Has nothing to do with COVID.

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.

I can give you a real world example of why a facility will not allow outside food.

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.

Thanks for your responses. I understand about the vitamins and other supplements. The food is a different issue. This particular facility/doctor does do a good job of providing good, nourishing healthy meals or snacks. I've complained and complained about it but can't get anywhere.