My mother lives in a senior independent living community. She and most everyone there has walkers, and residents are 'older'.-- at least 75+.
Management recently prevented outside doors, (except the main entrance) from being entered into by a key (which residents have). They put a plastic cover on the lock.
They did this last year about January 2021, claiming it was for Covid and they wanted to prevent nonresidents from coming in without signing in. We just sort of dealt with this and figured it would pass. And, since about May the plastic covers had come off, and residents were regularly using their keys to enter those outside entrances.
2 years ago, my mom got an apartment near that entrance for the reason it was convenient, and for the very reason she wouldn't have to walk around the whole building. This is now putting an extreme risk, as when she comes back from an errand or appt, she now has to walk around the entire building, OUTSIDE, to get in. Then, she has to make the long walk back to her room, which is a distance from the main entrance, inside. She does not have the strength to do this. She needs her walker to do this (she leaves it outside the door when she leaves, and uses another one in the car). It is extremely distressing to her, and this now is a burden to me and my other family caregivers.
When this originally happened, they said, oh, well, you can just call from your phone and someone will open the door for you. Really? Well, mom does not have a cell phone she carries, and having a cell was not a condition of moving in. Last year when this happened, I inquired of a another independent facility, and they do not lock the outside doors -- they were appalled at this.
This facility is not assisted living, nor a nursing home, and it takes away the "Independence" as well. Personally I think this is illegal, and honestly cruel.
I am planning to talk to the management this week, but I would appreciated any insight or help with this to strengthen the argument. This is in NY.
Thank you in advance.
Why does she need to walk around the building to the main entrance, does she park near her apt? If so, maybe she could park near the front entrance and then only have her room to walk to?
Your Mom should carry somekind of phone. It does not need to be fancy but something just for emergencies.
at 90 it is exhausting to walk and she just does not have the stamina. Again though it was sold to her as a plus to have that nearby entrance.
outside door only for residents with keys. Family members do not have them. Keys are marked do not copy. It is a burden to family as we must now go with mom around the buildings, walk outside, etc. with her. And make sure we are available to help with these trips. Note family have already signed in at front office when we arrive.
Most big box home improvement stores have a kiosk where you can make your own key. You put the key in and it is cut. You do it yourself so in theory a copy of the key can be made.
It does make it inconvenient.
Does she have a friend she can call when she wants to come in and have a friend open the door for her. I am assuming they can leave by that door. (If not that is probably a Fire Code Violation that can be reported.
It isn't illegal, so just relax. Have a calm, productive meeting with management to see what their reasoning is for this move and what can be done to help those residents who don't have the level of mobility needed to walk the distances required. Perhaps they can install an intercom system since your mom won't carry a phone.
There comes a point in time where seniors require different levels of care and/or ease of lifestyle which IL does not offer. When mobility becomes limited to the point where walkers aren't safe traipsing through snow, etc. That's when other arrangements should be considered for safety reasons without placing fault anywhere. Think about whether your mom has reached that point and whether this IL has passed its usefulness for her. My folks lived in an apartment style IL for 3 years until such time as the set-up no longer worked for them and I had to find another senior care facility that was better suited for their needs.
Good luck!
If they say no then ask for the name of their attorney since a fall is imminent this winter or possibly after a gulley washer rain fall.
Cameras and electric locks would also be another option for them and that would maintain their imaginary security.
The way you describe her, it seems like she can’t. If so, I’d suggest you start to look for AL unless she has other issues that show her need for skilled care so she can go into in a NH.
How does this IL do fire drills?
Any idea how your mom has fared when a fire drill was done?
That definitely is something I’d bring up when you speak with management. It may be that she realistically is not at all “independent” enough for IL. This is often a difficult conversation between management & residents (and their family) plus puts in play residents needing a huge increase in $$$ to pay for AL or NH or to hire a sitter or shadow. If it’s independent living, they need to be able to be cognitive and competent enough to comply with rules of the facility (even if they change) and do their ADLs on their own. If the place still has multiple points of egress (doors open to leave / exit), it’s going to be ok for fire rules. The IL do not have to allow residents to come in thorough all the doors. They can limit entry to the main entrance.
My moms IL did fire drills routinely. If a resident didn’t get to the preset zone in a somewhat flexible period of time via stairs or flat ignored alarm & stayed in thier apt, they got a 30 day Notice to Move.
If you don’t mind me asking, How is this a “burden” to you?