Visiting DON'T

sandwichone123

I went to visit my dh yesterday, as I usually do on Sundays, but this time when we got to the exit door there was traffic. I waited for the person to finish coming in and for the door to lock before I entered the code and gave my dh "last hug" as I usually do. Just then several people arrived to come in so I slipped out, and a family member told my dh, "come on" (out)!

I yelled NO, DON'T! and I think I startled her but she realized she shouldn't really offer to help other unknown people come out. I know she must have been embarrassed, and I probably shouldn't have yelled. It worked out OK, but here I am still thinking about it.

The moral of this story is, courtesy is great, but don't help people in or out. Especially out.

Chammer

My son recently began work at a Senior Living facility that includes independent living, assisted living and a locked memory care unit in the AL unit. He had a similar encounter where a well dressed gentleman followed him to the door as he was leaving the MC unit and since DS doesn't know all the residents yet, he waited a bit and chatted w the gentleman and realized he was a resident planning on leaving with him. He managed to get out the door leaving his new friend cussing and fuming behind the locked door.

Carl46

Good point, it can be hard to tell. My mother had to argue with staff to get out of a NH a few years ago after visiting a friend. She was nearly 90 and looked like she belonged there.

sandwichone123

Also a good point. I forget that my dh is just 62 and looks it. He was clearly with me, so they just assumed we were both leaving.

JJ401

MIL's memory care facility had a resident slip out with a visitor. Fortunately he was caught by an arriving worker before he exited the building. They now have a permanent sign on the incoming side of the door to not let anyone in or out with you.

JoseyWales

A new resident came to live at DH's memory care. She wanted out. Badly. I unlocked the door and came in one day, and she hid behind the open door. The alarm was going off, I looked and didn't see anyone, so put in the code to stop the alarm. I had done this before, sometimes the alarm goes off for no reason I can figure out. As I was distracted putting in the code, she came around the door and headed out. Somehow I never noticed.

Luckily a CNA noticed she was missing barely a minute after I arrived. I now check behind doors. She was easily caught in the hall.