Well, think about security a minute - if assisted living is your home, would you be happy that just anyone could wander the halls whenever? After all, you know that you are legitimately visiting your relative, but how would other residents know you were a legitimate visitor? I can understand some real controls on who and when - especially when you consider that many facilities are not heavily staffed with security people and the caregiver staff are generally busy caregiving. (Hint: good security staff are a different breed - they are not lobby greeters. I worked for a time in hospital security so I do know something about this issue.)
I would not have entertained the idea of my loved one staying in a facility where she did not have freedom to come and go as she pleased (if only in theory) and where she could not welcome anyone she wanted at any time of the day or night - again, in theory. In practice, of course, one is considerate of staff and other residents and does not barge about the place making a racket at unsocial hours, or demand attention when they're trying to get breakfast served, for example.
Nor would I have considered a facility which did not have adequate security in place. It's not that difficult to staff and monitor the lobby. The facility where my mother did stay for respite breaks and the three we looked at as permanent prospects were fine on this point.
At my Mom's AL you can come in and out up to a certain time, then after hours like a previous poster said you would need to buzz to be let in. At any time you visit though you are required to sign in, indicate what room you are visiting and then you are given a color coded name badge to worn. I do try not to visit at night after hours though out of respect to the other residents.
One reason the doors are locked after a certain time is for security. My daughter lingered until 8:30 pm one evening and as she went down the hall a resident asked her, “What are you doing here? It’s past bedtime!”
Facilities have open house / visitor hours set for the security of and consideration to staff and ALL residents. My experience is 9AM - 8/9PM.
All the places we’ve gone to from IL to NH, even a CCRC, all have had signage with hours posted with either a keypad code needed or security called to buzz you in after hours. Observering facility rules was a line in the admissions contract for my mom’s IL and NH.
Residents can move about as they wish. My MILs NH had a card group that played afterhours. I’m sure residents watch movies, etc in others rooms after visitor hours as well. Residents need to be assured that there’s some level of security for them which “open house hours” helps to provide.
WW, is there a reason why you cannot visit during more traditional time?
All AL's and MC's have visiting hour limits. Some are strict, some are lax.
In mother's first facility (Rosarito, Mexico) they had visiting hours 10 am-6pm. Seemed reasonable but when we came early, she was doing activities or getting a bath. Waits of over an hour were common if we came in the morning .
The new MC in Tijuana only has visiting hours from 3 pm to 6 pm. I hate it because it's rush hour traffic. I believe their reasoning is they need the mornings for breakfast, potty, bathing and dressing. Being a nurse, I completely understand the timing. How can you have 28 people fed, bathed, dressed and ready to visit by 10 am? You can't.
Hubby pushes the time issue and gets us there by 2 pm. No one has said anything about it yet. We always pay before the due date, bring whatever they ask within a day or two and have given little treats to the staff. Maybe they'll let us keep coming at 2 pm.
I used to hate when hospital visitors would come before visiting hours. The patients would want to stop whatever I was doing and visit. I'd have to come back and that threw me off schedule.
I try to be cooperative for the staff's sake. I see them work hard. Mom is well taken care of and she is a "challenging" old gal. Fiesty and stubborn, she scratched the aide on the arm. Time for us to cut her nails again!
I don't believe they are hiding anything. We call every two days to check up. Monday's are no visit days because the doctor does his rounds. He's given good treatment.
Wow, those are really restrictive hours Sue! We are talking Assisted Living here, not skilled nursing (although mom's nursing home does have a 24 hour open door policy too). I don't buy that visits would be interrupting care, baths are on a schedule that we know in advance, so are naps, I'm welcome to help in the dining room (although I've never gone for breakfast) and if mom needs personal care they draw the curtains or ask me to step out. Of course you need to be a courteous visitor: if mom's roommate is in the room we visit in the lounge, I don't bring in special treats in front of other residents, and of course I wouldn't make a lot of noise that could disturb others. This is people's home, and IMO as long as their visitors are not disturbing others they should be free to have company whenever they want.
I’d suggest you get her evaluated to move into a NH where she can have skilled nursing care. She applies for Medicaid. As she’s been in AL for quite a while, there should be a pretty clear pattern as to where her $$ has been spent so hopefully no major issues for eligibility.
Between Medicare and Medicaid (a “dual”) and living in a NH all of her health care, medication and daily room & board costs should be covered. There will be clothing, toiletries and beauty salon costs by all her major expenses taken care of by her being a “dual” but should be less than what the costs now are. Plus skilled nursing staff, therapists, social worker, regular podiatrist visits.
Is someone in your family telling the facilities not to let you visit?
Nor would I have considered a facility which did not have adequate security in place. It's not that difficult to staff and monitor the lobby. The facility where my mother did stay for respite breaks and the three we looked at as permanent prospects were fine on this point.
A friend had her Mom in a AL where you signed in and out at the lobby, residents too.
So, it varies.
All the places we’ve gone to from IL to NH, even a CCRC, all have had signage with hours posted with either a keypad code needed or security called to buzz you in after hours. Observering facility rules was a line in the admissions contract for my mom’s IL and NH.
Residents can move about as they wish. My MILs NH had a card group that played afterhours. I’m sure residents watch movies, etc in others rooms after visitor hours as well. Residents need to be assured that there’s some level of security for them which “open house hours” helps to provide.
WW, is there a reason why you cannot visit during more traditional time?
In mother's first facility (Rosarito, Mexico) they had visiting hours 10 am-6pm. Seemed reasonable but when we came early, she was doing activities or getting a bath. Waits of over an hour were common if we came in the morning .
The new MC in Tijuana only has visiting hours from 3 pm to 6 pm. I hate it because it's rush hour traffic. I believe their reasoning is they need the mornings for breakfast, potty, bathing and dressing. Being a nurse, I completely understand the timing. How can you have 28 people fed, bathed, dressed and ready to visit by 10 am? You can't.
Hubby pushes the time issue and gets us there by 2 pm. No one has said anything about it yet. We always pay before the due date, bring whatever they ask within a day or two and have given little treats to the staff. Maybe they'll let us keep coming at 2 pm.
I used to hate when hospital visitors would come before visiting hours. The patients would want to stop whatever I was doing and visit. I'd have to come back and that threw me off schedule.
I try to be cooperative for the staff's sake. I see them work hard. Mom is well taken care of and she is a "challenging" old gal. Fiesty and stubborn, she scratched the aide on the arm. Time for us to cut her nails again!
I don't believe they are hiding anything. We call every two days to check up. Monday's are no visit days because the doctor does his rounds. He's given good treatment.
Between Medicare and Medicaid (a “dual”) and living in a NH all of her health care, medication and daily room & board costs should be covered. There will be clothing, toiletries and beauty salon costs by all her major expenses taken care of by her being a “dual” but should be less than what the costs now are. Plus skilled nursing staff, therapists, social worker, regular podiatrist visits.
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