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Thursday, May 4, 2023

Trouble in paradise

I have lived here for about nine months, and they have been full of adventure of late. At the beginning of the week, when the "bell hops" (teen age or slightly more mostly college students) began clearing the tables and taking our dessert orders, I placed my usual order of two servings of ice cream. 

Dessert comes "pre-packaged" and we generally carry it to our rooms, along with the daily soup. Kate immediately responded there was a new rule, to keep us from making a run on the finances of the kitchen by carrying so much food to our rooms. We could take nothing to our rooms, all food must be consumed in the dining room. By the low buzz circulating, it was obvious the word was spreading.

Immediately a dining room supervisor standing nearby chimed in that Yes, this was the new rule, from the Managing Director, and possibly even from the owner himself; the food cost overruns were astronomical, and in order not to raise rents, other steps were being taken. Food restriction was one.

I was dumbfounded. What business did the Managing Director have laying such a policy change on us via low level staff. What was the management reasoning, in writing, changing this policy I had been told and took as a reason for renting here. I was told we could take uneaten portions of breakfast or supper back to the room. I looked around for a staff member reasonable to complain to, but the dining room was empty of all staff. Everyone had retreated to the kitchen.

As we sat at the tables, wanting to speak, personnel began to reappear. The previous information was a mistake, the chatter began. We could take one portion of anything back to the room. I caught the eye of Christina, the dining room supervisor, and said "Tell me this isn't true!" I do not eat breakfast in the cafeteria, though I hear it is very good. We are not served lunch, and I take a modest dinner. My fondness for the ice cream is such a joke that Christina snuck me a serving of one of my favorites when I was isolated.

Christina said "Joanne, I simply do not care any more. This has been so bungled!" I said I didn't want to make trouble for her, and would settle for one ice cream, which I carried on my walker tray back to my room. This was Tuesday. In my room, I wrote a letter to the Managing Director, telling him how unprofessionally the matter was handled and asking what evidence had they considered in deciding the dining room residents were solely responsible for food cost overruns.

Wednesday my dander was up. I asked Kate for two, not one but two coffee ice creams for dessert, to go back to my room. Kate came back with two ice creams, sent one before me, and informed me there would be a $2.00 room charge for the second. Being the nasty, greedy child assumed, I said FINE! and accepted it. Back in my room I wrote the Managing Director a second letter, telling him how unprofessional was the delivery of this new policy by an eighteen year old to an eighty year old woman whose business experience exceeded his.

Today was a day off for Kate, I assume, as Christina had her table duties. She took our dessert orders and soup orders, and returned with one more ice cream than we'd ordered. She tipped it into the bag on my walker while putting the other on my tray, in clear, and permitted view. The three of us laughed, and Chris said, for our information, this isn't over yet.

She knows more about that than I do. I've made my point, and tomorrow is another day. Interestingly it is Friday, when four to five in the afternoon is happy hour. There is entertainment of some sort in the cafeteria, and we are served drinks while we listen. Tomorrow also is Cinco de Mayo, so the drinks will include Margueritas, as well as wine and fizzly grape juice. For not the first time this week I have wondered the cost of two drinks of their choice to a room full of people costs the establishment.

In the meantime, I have Kitty to cater to. I did purchase the full array of toys, as promised, and in order to keep my living room looking fairly decent, gave her a toy box, like Debby mentioned. I keep it pushed in during the day, and pull it out after supper for her to make choices. Typically Torti, here she is pulling out first the raggedy bit of pink and black rug selvages she brought from the Humane Society.  Yes, the same stuff used to weave rugs.


Before I go to bed tonight, I'll use my "grabber" to reach down the grey mouse she jumps for every night.


 


34 comments:

  1. Hari OM
    Bummer! I find myself wondering how enforcing eating in the dining room makes any difference; except, I suppose, the fact that most of you couldn't manage everything at one sitting... No matter. This is not something to be announced this way. An official letter with policy amendments would be the minimum. We await further reports, as 'this is not finished'! At least Kitty looks content. YAM xx

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    1. I know you'll keep us well-informed on the extra food topic :-)

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  2. Well that's enough to get your dander up. Change has to be lead rather than dictated.

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  3. Never a dull moment there. Such cowardice, pushing the change off to part time youngsters to deliver. If it's a policy change, there are more appropriate ways to inform residents. Let's see what's next. I know you won't go quietly!

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  4. I simply don't see how taking food to your rooms leads to cost over-runs. The food is already served to you and if you don't take it to eat later it will simply be thrown away, right? Or have they decided to return uneaten sealed portions to the kitchen fridges and re-serve them at the next meal so they don't have to order more? I'm thinking some bean-counter somewhere just wants a bit more "pocket money" for himself.

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  5. So much wrong with this. I'm glad you wrote your letters and hope they help. Most residents wouldn't be up to the task and that's exactly what administrators are counting on to push their agenda through.

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  6. Dear Joanne, I am utterly flabbergasted and shocked by the unprofessional way the management treats you. All of you.
    You are leastwise able to complain; I think some others might not be able to do so.

    I am so outraged and feel caged and am glad that you are a fighter.

    Maybe they have to economise - but even if they do so on one of the worst parts (eating), they should be able to make it transparent why they have to do it - they should inform you - you are grown-up and have brains - and best would be they would sit with you together and discuss where to economise, they should not decide over your head.

    (A lot of "should", and I always read these days that one "should" eliminate the "should", to be happy - but honestly: I am glad you wrote those letters. Did the manager answer? What did he say?
    Do you have a representation of interests-group of the inhabitants? You are the customers - the management is doing the service. (Call me naive).
    I think it very kind of the staff to help you - and of course I would take the ice cream - but: so they put you into the rule of dependant, not customer.
    At the moment I do not have any idea what to do with realistic chances for improvement, but I hope there will be one coming soon. Britta x

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  7. Hiss and spit. Please keep us posted.

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  8. Oh dear - this is not good for the community that lives there . Surely any change in policy would be given by letter not word of mouth. Great to hear your ‘fighting spirit’ has not left you- keep us ‘in the loop’ with whatever eventuates

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  9. Cutting costs shouldn't extend to food and feeding people! Jesus! This just pisses me off. You should all band together and talk to a lawyer.

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  10. I agree with Jennifer, cutting costs should fall elsewhere, not on the feeding of people. Friend of mine has her mom in one of the "premium" facilities, where they were promised premium care, premium food, all of course at premium prices. (12 grand a month!) None of it is better than the food and care where our elderly cousin is, in a Medicaid facility. This is one of the worst tragedies of aging in America; taking advantage of those who have few or no other options.

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  11. Good grief! Such a terrible way to make changes in the residence. There are those who can’t fight as you can! Good luck, my friend!

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  12. Not a good move for the management as everyone else has pointed out. Hopefully, they will get things figured out in a way that is not so insulting and an apology would not hurt either. A two dollar room charge for an ice cream? That's ridiculous.
    I love that your pretty kitty loves her security selvages. They are her blankie.

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  13. Don't you have a regular kitchen with a fridge and stove and sink? Aren't you able to fix your own meals, if you want to? Certainly you can buy your own ice cream and keep it in your freezer!
    I am not in assisted living, but it sure sounds like they gouge you for everything and I will stay as independent for as long as I can. I turn 80 this year and, so far, doing OK.

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  14. cutting back on food? seriously? really, how much can a bunch of 80 and 90 year olds eat fer cryin' out loud. and they only serve two meals a day. someone needs to organise the residents, I nominate you. all that new construction is probably why the budget is getting pinched.

    glad to see Kat.

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  15. That just seems wrong..and badly presented to you all too, staff and residents.
    Well done for standing up and asking questions!!

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  16. This is outrageous. Cutting back on food in the interest of cost saving is wrong on many levels. I hope your letter to management asked for a response. If this does not get resolved to your satisfaction, consider filing a complaint with the ombudsman. This will initiate a full investigation. Kitty's toy box works well.

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  17. That seems to be a very mean-spirited food policy. I hope residents are able to prevail! And kitty's mouse on a string tied to the overhead fan -- what a great idea! Do you leave the fan running at night so the mouse runs around in circles?

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  18. Jeez Joanne, that sounds so unprofessional. And miserly and punitive to boot. In my experience in business management in the food industry it was "shrinkage" (i.e. employee theft) that affected most food and bar shortages. NOT consumers. And with the elderly status of your residents, how could they possibly consume so much? (Metabolisms, etc.)
    I hope they improve the situation.
    XO
    WWW

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  19. It does seem sneaky and unprofessional. But the cat has toys, including a dangling mouse. So all is not wrong with the world. 😀

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  20. First, I think you are a very good cat mother... the toy box is a good idea and I think kitty is lucky to have you. As for the food situation, I would think that people in management would realize how important the quality and quantity of food is in a home care situation... and what a difference it makes in attracting and keeping tenants.

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  21. It's unconscionable that they're rationing food! What the hell. I love the kitty toy box, has she tried pulling the box out by herself?

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  22. Perhaps a cut in wages and benefits for high office workers will ease the burden on the budget.

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  23. Oh, man. A two buck room charge is really insulting. I'm glad you've made your thoughts clear via letters to the managing director (lowercase used on purpose).

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  24. What a bunch of wimps in the way they've dealt (not dealt) with this situation! Older people eating is SO important that it shouldn't be restricted. Perhaps they need to cut their own salaries a bit instead. Grrrr. Love the kitty box of toys; she seems to be enjoying them!

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  25. Sweet Lincoln's mullet, do I need to start a gofundme page for you? Joanne and your fellow tenants should not have their ice cream rationed. What a bunch of crap. I hope your letters provide some relief for you guys.

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  26. They needed to show residents how the so called food waste is arrived at - my guess incompetent ordering.

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  27. Let's be quite realisitic here. Of all the cuts that could have been made, ice cream???? Changing up diets and food? There are plenty of cuts that could be made that would result in far greater savings, but that would affect them, not you. There are tremendous sums of money spent by nursing homes just to make the place look inviting. My sister collected some fine lawn benches being discarded because they looked shabby. Nothing wrong with them at all, sturdy teak benches with arms and backs. She just threw some finish on them, and they are lovely. Every year, they throw their potted ferns away. Every year, she collects them and brings them home to winter them, and split them, and hang them on her porch in spring. Everyone in the family has ferns from the nursing home. She left there to go to work in a local hospital. Lucky for us. Nobody needed another fern! So...you fight tooth and nail on the ice cream, sister!

    *Settles in to watch what happens next*

    Hey. anyone want popcorn?

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  28. PS Do you get up every morning and put Kitty's toys back in her toybox?

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  29. I dislike very much when institutions make ill considered rules. I can not even believe that oldies can take so much food back to their rooms that it results in cost over runs. Most people hardly have an appetite. I hope it all gets sorted out in a good way. Your cat seems to be coming out of her hiding spot a bit more.

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  30. Sounds like kitty is getting better treatment than you people. You did well to write.

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  31. Good for you for complaining and letting your voice/letter be heard. I wrote a blog post about complaining for Monday. My friends are laughing about how I got my dander up.

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