Does she have any friends or family who can buy her groceries? She should check local organizations - in my area, there are many people volunteering to do exactly what she needs. Facebook is a good resource for community groups.

One friend who lives quite far out. I'm going to check back with her about the groceries. She did look in the beginning but maybe the help is just getting started. I know it took my family in the states several weeks to find delivery. The main grocery stores are just too overwhelmed and have a two or more week waiting period. They finally connected with a volunteer group, just like you mention. I'm going to ask her if she's on facebook! Thanks!

I'm confused. Did she first contact the management of the facility?

Yes, Elmer. She contacted them several times about the elevator. She started right where she lives. As I've mentioned elsewhere I'm surprised that a building for SENIORS needs to be prodded in any way to have a protocol that addresses the way virus spreads. If Seniors are warned to stay in, why doesn't each resident receive a list of available services just as a matter of course? Why does she have to personally call the State Health Department (or whatever State office she is supposed to call). I'll be talking to her tomorrow and will try to clarify some of this. To top it off, she's in MICHIGAN -- supposedly a shut down State.

The solution needs to be with the facility. If they're that clueless she should move as soon as possible to someplace that takes better care of residents. I'd be shocked if the phone calls you describe turn out to be other than a waste of time.

What a terrible situation to be in, I wish her good luck.

Area Agencies on Aging are a national network of non-profit agencies created by the federal government under the Older Americans Act (est. 1965). The federal initiative supports older adults living at home with assistance through comprehensive services. Area Agencies on Aging provide services, education, outreach, and advocacy to vulnerable adults and their caregivers.

Kalamazoo County’s agency is housed in the Older Adult Services Division. This non-profit programming is supported through local, state, and federal funding.

311 E. Alcott St.
Kalamazoo, MI 49001

269-373-5173 (program line)

Email clinical social worker https://www.kalcounty.com/hcs/aaa/contact.php?aaa3a

https://www.kalcounty.com/hcs/aaa/

There would be different rules for Senior Apartments versus Retirement Homes that offer services above and beyond shelter. A senior apartment is just that it it is for independent living. The landlords would not be responsible for telling residents how to go about their lives or going around sanitizing the property daily etc. although it wold be reasonable for maintenance to take extra care. In a retirement home where more personal services are rendered they would be given stricter standards to operate under.

Living in a building with age restrictions doesn't mean anything much different than any other rental housing. Of course better landlords /management would take extra steps to encourage safe practices at this time but I don't think they can enforce them upon tenants.

Does she belong to a church or any kind of organization? They might be able to help with a volunteer to pick up groceries for her.

If wildchild is correct it begs the question in large cities is that the case they are not limiting elevator use? Seems REALLY REALLY wrong! My parents 84, moved into a senior residence--they thought. There is a library, work out room, solarium for general use. When shelter in-place hit all the common areas were shut/sanitized and remain locked. I will have to ask about the elevators...I say "they thought" because the building has recently opened up to anyone due to need to keep all apartments full...There are no "services" per-say but management seems to have put social distancing best practices in place.

I agree with Wild about the type of residence.

Arcy, sometimes senior housing allows younger people with disabilities. My aunt lived in one and I was surprised when her granddaughter got an apartment there. (She has mental disability so not necessarily something you would notice just looking at her.)

Bleu, your friend needs an advocate either in an agency, church etc.

Nice that you are looking out for her.

Another option may be joining a place like Nextdoor. We have all kinds of people doing things like shopping for others, sewing facemasks, etc.

Can she have packages delivered to her door? She could sign up for one of those meal plan packages, like Blue Apron or Sunbasket. There are also some cheaper with more basic recipes, but I don't know the names.

It's easy to pick up the phone and call for her....be an advocate for her. Sometimes people need assistance to make it work, not just a suggestion of who/where to call.

Obvious question, why doesn't she take the stairs? Most multiple housing units with multiple floors requires stairs for fire safety

I'm sorry she doesn't live here, I would shop for her. Michigan is way too far away though. She needs to contact the senior centers and churches. Someone will be glad to shop for her.

Taking stairs may not be an option for a 70 year recovering from an operation.

My mother lives in a large building. Since mid March the buzzer has been shut off. All deliveries must be received downstairs.

I am her caregiver. I have been wearing a mask since before it was recommended.

Your friend needs assistance and should pursue the recommendations mentioned. I hope something works out.

Taking stairs may not be an option for lots of reasons!! Arthritis in my knees and a full metal ankle makes taking stairs - especially going down stairs - a very slow and painful process to me. And that is only complicated if schlepping anything at the same time, like bags of groceries.

I'd follow up with the links mdln provided. Services are for ALL older adults, regardless of where they reside.

Lots of volunteers are making masks also (although how effective cloth masks are is still unknown) so do what you can to get her a few.

Obvious question, why doesn't she take the stairs? Most multiple housing units with multiple floors requires stairs for fire safety

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another issue. She's on the 6th floor but that isn't the problem There was a fire alarm two weeks ago. The residents went down the stairs and the DOOR at the bottome was locked. I also told her to report that to the powers that be and I forgot to ask her about that. If she could use the stairs it would still be hard for her to bring groceries up.

raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio

Lots of volunteers are making masks also (although how effective cloth masks are is still unknown) so do what you can to get her a few.

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She's made her own masks and even used links that I got from this site.

mdln

Area Agencies on Aging are a national network of non-profit agencies created by the federal government under the Older Americans Act (est. 1965). The federal initiative supports older adults living at home with assistance through comprehensive services. Area Agencies on Aging provide services, education, outreach, and advocacy to vulnerable adults and their caregivers.

~~~~

thanks so much for this. I'm going to forward the thread to her!

Blue, not sure this is an option for your friend. My best friend was in senior housing 6 years ago. They did have a small office, think the ladies title was senior advisor. . My friend had so much frustration with several issues. Friend would call me as she had no family. When I called the advisor ,we were able to solve all the issues. By any chance is there someone you could speak with about the issues. Realize today's issues all new, from 6 years ago but maybe a new voice could be heard.

I love this community. I told her last night that I was going to post here and I was sure I'd get some ideas.

I will forward this thread to her -- I also posted the same question on "another forum" here but unfortunately cross posting there isn't permitted so I get a bit confused about what I've said where!

The suggestion that I make calls for her is good but you may be surprised to know that we haven't seen each other for more than forty years! She's lived in the Southwest and I, in Canada. I couldn't answer the most basic questions about the building that would be asked. My friend is completely alert, charming, capable of emailing and calling. The building is subsidized. Of course, if nothing could be done I could probably start a ball rolling by calling but I still think she can manage it better than I could.

"There was a fire alarm two weeks ago. The residents went down the stairs and the DOOR at the bottome was locked."

This is a house of horrors that phone calls can't fix. Can she afford to live somewhere else?

During a fire residents MUST be able to use the stairs to exit, on their own or assisted by staff. A lock door at the bottom of the stairs is a serious fire code violation, everywhere I've worked used exterior doors and were locked only on the outside for stair exits.

"This is a house of horrors that phone calls can't fix. Can she afford to live somewhere else?"

This apartment came available at a time when it was an emergency for her to move. I think she has applications in for other buildings. She says that the door at the bottom of the stairs is now kept open but residents are not ALLOWED to use the stairs unless there is a fire alarm.

I forwarded the thread to her and she is going to read and respond.

locked door instead of lock door?

have her call a few local churches to see if they can help or direct her to more help. how about a local food bank? these places are all around in my area and our local news reports on their services every single day. is she watching her local news? they most likely are doing the same as our news is. I'd call the local fire dept about that door being locked.

Here we have some great news reporters that have been focusing on the senior housing community. They really get on the management when they are alerted to problems and violations. She should try calling the local news stations to see if they are interested in the issues there.

I am so glad we no longer have family in senior facilities.

Best of luck to her.

heck...she should call the police...make some noise...maybe that will light a fire under the facilities @ss!!

raven, desert, always

I agree -- I told her to call the Fire Department or the newspapers. She didn't do that and says that the tenants complaints got through. But as I think about it, she should call and ask the fire department to do a spot check. And thinking further, that's something I could do easily. All I need is the address.

Is there a meals on wheels in her area?

functionthenlook

Is there a meals on wheels in her area?

~~~

Yes, she got meals on wheels for awhile after her surgery. She says there was so much beef and pork and she's close to being vegetarian. She has the strength to get her meals together now. Another thing about grocery delivery -- it can only be delivered to the lobby, not to an apartment. She is checking on that too, if maybe maintenance might put it outside her door for a small payment ...

yes I think you should go ahead and notify the fire chief. If that is going on where she lives, it most likely is in other senior living places in that area. the last thing they need is a fire in the bldg. and lots of people that can't get out! I also think someone responsible for the building where she lives should be making arrangements for the deliveries to get to the door of the people. the more the seniors are out and about (going up / down elevators and to the lobby) the more they are exposed.

there's a lot on our news about the senior living areas and nursing homes here. lots of deaths in the nursing homes. the caretakers and those in charge of it haven't taken the proper precautions. It is so sad to hear on the news about this, but at least the news is exposing this to the public and officials that license these places.

Hi everybody. This is what she wrote to me -- I'll remind her to follow the thread for the latest posts. Thank you!

I'll call Senior Services next week and see what help they can give me for getting groceries. I'm pretty sure they will help me. They were very helpful after my surgery. I'll also check out Next Door. Also, I'll find a place, maybe at the state level, to complain about the lack of masks and social distancing here. I'll do all that next week. As far as the elevator -- I just won't get on if anyone else is on and I'll get off if anyone else gets on! Thanks a lot for the suggestions! And thanks for all your concern and the concern and help of the people on the forum.

Another email from my friend

I called senior services and they told me that they have a van called Metro Connect. It used to cost money to take it, but during the pandemic it is free. It will take seniors to the doctor and/or the grocery store. They only take a few passengers at a time and you have to wear a mask. So that will solve that problem.

In terms of masks at this senior living facility -- when I called the state, they told me that our governor has "recommended" masks but has not mandated it -- so there's nothing to do about some people not wearing masks here. And in a place with hundreds of people, there probably is no way to enforce it anyway.

And after reading the article about the particles going through ventilation systems, there may be no getting away from it. I know that my airconditioning unit is for my apartment alone -- but I'm not sure about the heat. I know I'm not in a good place for this time -- but I'll just keep doing the best I can. Thanks for all your concern and the concern of your forum.

take some wipes with you to clean the elevator button and in the van or wherever you go for door handles. be safe!