Rolling walkers required to be "checked" at retirement community dining room

[Sadie22]

I visited a retirement community for a brunch buffet. The "host" who was seating diners at tables took rolling walkers from some people, refusing to allow them to keep them next to them at the tables. He gave a numbered ticket to each walker user from whom he took a walker. They had to present the tickets to get their walkers back. Of course they had no use of the devices to go to the buffet and back. These people were using the walkers mostly just for balance issues, I guess, as I didn't see anyone with an obvious limp or anything like that. I'm wondering if this practice is common or if there's anything illegal in it.

 

[SMD]

The place where my grandma lived had a policy. People would sit down and push their walker/rollator away and trap other people in their seat. They would also take it to the salad bar, then walk away carrying their plate and just leave them at the bar blocking everyone. It became a huge hazard, especially the rollators which are heavier to push out of the way and because of the brake. They had attendants that would help people with walkers get salad when they entered and then take the walkers away. All other food was brought by servers. They also had a rule that wheelchairs had to be used under your own power. Anyone that needed to be pushed in a wheelchair could get meals brought to them or move to an assisted living facility. Other than being in a wheelchair temporarily due to injury I don't think they had anyone confined to a wheelchair full time due to a physical disability while she lived there. It was considered "independent living" and I know they had rules about how long you could stay once you required nursing assistance, even if you were willing to hire your own private care people.

 

[redberyl]

I can see it being a safety issue. Plus, you can't balance a plate from the buffet and push a walker at the same time

 

[elmoandzoey]

My mother works in a retirement home and they have the same policy as SMD described. Walkers and rollators have become such a hazard for other people that the assistants move them to the side away from the tables after people have sat down. If someone needs to get up and use their walker/rollator, they signal the assistants and then are being brought their device. I have seen people leaving their walkers right next to them at the table either taking up a complete seat someone else would need or they would trap people in who have already sat down by leaving their walkers right behind that person's chair. Also, the assistants have a hard time doing just that, assisting people, if their working space is blocked.

 

[lanejudy]

My father is in a memory care facility, and they also try to move the walkers/rollators out of the way in the dining room after the guests are seated. Similar reasons as mentioned above -- there just isn't space right at the tables and they need to keep the aisles cleared for people to walk safely. His facility doesn't have a buffet so everything is served to the table, but if someone needs to leave the table there are plenty of staff on hand throughout the dining room to assist getting the devices back to their owners.

 

[SueM in MN]

I have also heard about it for the same reasons as the other posters.
If it was one or 2 mobility devices, they might be able to manage seating so people can have their device and not block other people.
But, with more, they probably can't do anything. And, it's easier to have a blanket rule than let some people have theirs and others not.

 

[Sadie22]

Thanks, everyone, for your responses. I had never seen this at any facility I had ever visited.

 

[HopperFan]

My father is in a memory care facility, and they also try to move the walkers/rollators out of the way in the dining room after the guests are seated. Similar reasons as mentioned above -- there just isn't space right at the tables and they need to keep the aisles cleared for people to walk safely. His facility doesn't have a buffet so everything is served to the table, but if someone needs to leave the table there are plenty of staff on hand throughout the dining room to assist getting the devices back to their owners.

MIL was also in Memory Care and they had this policy. Another reason they had it was because during meals the entire staff was serving meals, cutting food, getting more drinks, one was usually doing feeding. Many of these folks would get off track and just get up and try to wander away if their mobility device was there. This kept them seated and hopefully focused on eating. There just wasn't enough staff to cover keeping them at the table as well as the other duties.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I'm wondering if this practice is common or if there's anything illegal in it.

1) Nothing inherently wrong or illegal.
2) I do not see where this should even be an issue.
3) Strictly a safety issue for staff and other guests.

 

[Sadie22]

I don't agree with taking away a device necessary for the safety and mobility independence of the user for no apparent reason. There was space at the table for the physician-prescribed device of the elderly person I was accompanying when not in use - next to me, in fact. The person I was with was upset that her device was taken from her control. I have been in a lot of facilities and truly had never seen this before. Since it obviously was not a strict rule - some people had them and others did not - I think this was an untrained individual who thought the rolling walkers were just for carrying purses or extra seating or something rather than being medical equipment.

 

[CharmedCake]

The issue is most likely to do with health and safety Sadie22 , as there are many laws that surround them as opposed to independence which has very little legal protection.

What has most likely happened is that either multiple people (client/staff/visitor) had small scale injuries or one person had a large scale injury to the obstacles of the dining room (tables, chairs, people, etc) and many poorly placed mobility aids, and the health and safety officer has told them move the mobility aids, as they are the hazards and the easiest way to remove obstacles to prevent injuries.

As health and safety works on removing the hazard whenever possible and as easily as possible.

That is the unfortunate reality when your home is also a workplace for others, such as aged care facilities.

 

[SMD]

wrong thread.

 

[DisneyFan13US]

I agree with CharmedCake 100%. I have worked at numerous assisted living / memory care facilities and we have always moved them off the the side. It not only can be a hazard to those of us working who are trying to assist other residents to their seats or carrying food but also to the other residents who are trying to maneuver around them. There have also been times when I've had to respond to an emergency in the dining room (choking, loss of consciousness, etc.) and trying to get around walkers is the last thing I want to do.

There may have been room for the one right by you, but add in 10-15 and you can see how it becomes a gridlock. Also, there should be staff in the dining room so if one of those residents who needs a walker starts to get up, the aide can assist in getting it for them.

You can speak to the administrator if you wish but I would assume they would tell you the same thing, it can be a hazard. I think the better course of action would be to speak with the resident you were there with or to speak to the aides about their policy. I can tell you this, I have seen aides go a crazy amount out of their way for residents who are nice to them and treat them with respect. On the flip side I have seen aides do the very bare minimum for residents who are rude or those with hard to please family members / visitors.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

There was space at the table for the physician-prescribed device of the elderly person I was accompanying when not in use - next to me

What if . . .
. . . you bumped it, it fell, and it hindered the path of another guest or staff member
. . . the person using it suddenly moved it to get up without warning and hindered a guest of staff
. . . another person wanted to sit at the spot of the device and was forced to try to move it out of the way
. . . someone walking by had to avoid another person and bumped into it an stumbled

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm going to close this because it isn't related to WDW and the reason for removing mobility devices has been explained and discussed.