A) Some of my clothes have gone missing. What to do ?
Ans: Speak to the floor nurse. If no results contact the manager for food/laundry. There's lots of clothes to launder here. The turnaround time for laundered clothing is usually several days but sometimes that could be extended for several reasons. Items often do show up eventually. If not, ask to be reimbursed for replacement items ...(could take months).
B) I understand that with the activation of the TV menus we'll lose the hardcopy versions of the daily menus. Whose idea was this? This is a 70% dementia residence.
For so many reasons this "TV menu" decision was a bad idea, and it just does not end. First, all that money ($$$ !) for something nobody wanted. The monitors were installed in the worst location. Then came the complaints from the residents about the location/placement. Then more money spent relocating the monitors. Now the hardcopy menus are being discontinued? Makes you wonder whose "HOME" is this ? And the "TV menu" is still not functional on one floor.
Ans: The money to purchase the monitors was used from a fund that families may donate to for improvements to the residence. What the bill has amounted to now for the purchase,installation, and reinstallation is unknown. There certainly needs to be a process that will solicit ideas from the families on how best to use these funds. This money could have been used for items that would actually have benefitted the residents. As for loss of hardcopy menus - just a very bad idea. Did anyone think to ask residents/families first ?
C) The food served here has a high sugar content.There's also a lot of ultra-processed food being served. The homemade food is pretty good, but the rest ? Why so much sugar ?
Ans: This issue has been raised with little result. File a complaint with the Ministry - otherwise nothing will change.
D) My clothes come back from the laundry several shades darker. Do they wash all clothes without separating darks from lights/whites ?
Ans: Whites and darks are not separated in the laundry process.
E) Increasingly we experience shortages of food menu items, when we know that other floors have excess of the same,(which end up being thrown out). We're on a "locked" floor. Why can't they transfer their excess to our shortage ?
Ans: Here is what is supposed to happen. The server on the shortage floor should call the kitchen downstairs who should call each floor to find who has excess food which can be transferred to your floor.
E) For years, literally, we've complained about the torn,stained, mis-sized sheets the residents are forced to sleep on. Why can management not address this situation ?
Ans: The laundry service provider has been changed,finally. Time will tell how this will play out. It's a step in the right direction.
F) Many months ago we changed the laundry service provider. The new food protectors (bibs) are totally non- absorbent. We were told this was to be rectified.What happened ?
Ans: Apparently..... nothing.
G) With no housekeeping services after supper the floors are often dirty and sticky until the next morning. People track spilled food and fruit juices(sticky) thoughout the floor into the rooms etc. causing more cleaning issues, and this attracts bugs,etc.We had problems with flies in the dining area )which spread to the whole floor) for months before anyone reacted. During the day the staff do a pretty good job.Why are dirty floors acceptable overnight ?
Ans: Official excuse ? No budget.
Reality ? There is no excuse for this. Nobody would find this acceptable in their home, so...
H) Items of my clothing have gone missing.Others have mentioned they have had the same experience after
they spoke up about the care they receive. Coincidence? Hardly.
Of course everyone plays dumb,giving unbelievable responses for this.
We consider this abusive behaviour towards us.
Ans: Sometimes clothing does go missing- for real.
But the incidences of "missing" clothing and the connection to complaints made about care or conditions here are hard to ignore.
Apparently clothing will be lost a week, or several weeks, or over a month only to miraculously re-appear one day... or never.
Try to photograph clothing you bring in. It will reduce excuses you may encounter about being reimbursed.