Wolk Manor Assisted Living

My mother has moved into Wolk Manor Enriched Living Center. They're very welcoming. The sales associate who gave us the tour, my mom's aides and nurses, the staff, the concierge, everyone knows who she is. They're very kind. They know the family. We're able to call any time, night or day, and we feel very confident that she's being cared for in a way that's appropriate to her needs. She has a one-bedroom apartment, and it's lovely. It has a kitchenette, so she has a small refrigerator with a very small freezer, a microwave, and a sink. She's got a nice sized bedroom, a nice sized living space, and closet space. The hallways and everything are well maintained with fresh paint and fresh carpet. It feels like an apartment. It doesn't feel like a nursing home. They had a studio apartment as well. They have a beauty salon, a library, two large dining rooms, and the dining rooms are nice. They have white tablecloths for dinner, and they're less formal for lunch. They have three meals and a decent menu. My mother is not super enthralled with the food. It's pretty bland, but other than that, I give it an extremely high rating. It's expensive, but it had the nicest apartment of all the ones that we toured.

Disappointed with the care. The management does not want to hear about how they can improve their services for the residents. I've been helping mom with dad's care because she, too, is elderly, and my help is invaluable because I do it with great kindness. The other night, my father was clearly in dire shape, so I inquired (firmly but in no way unfriendly as my many friends and colleagues can attest-- I am super friendly no matter what...) of the nurse on duty about the timing of his meds. I received an email the next morning from Kathy Ronayne Mcghan: "Good morning Lindsay, I have been informed by staff, as well as a few other residents, that your behavior is unacceptable at times when you visit your father in the evening. Especially in dealing with nurses and then destructive outbursts in common areas regarding your father and his medications. ...If this behavior continues when you visit your father, you will be asked to leave the building and not return due to upsetting our operations." "Destructive outbursts" DO NOT describe me, not even remotely. Did I start crying because my father was clearly in SUPER bad shape, and the nursing staff didn't show a modicum of concern? Yes. But it was essential for Kathy to make a story up and put it on her record via email to me so they could continue to neglect my dad and neglect my super friendly and well-thought-out written requests. (Brittany Serens, the nurse manager, and Kathy were already not replying 50% of the time to my 82-year-old mother's emails, which is why I got involved as an advocate). That night (Kathy sent the email restricting me from assisting/supervising my father's care- on November 8), my dad was rushed to the ER. He is still there. He is in acute kidney failure. Today is Saturday... four days later. Dad is STILL in the ER. Not the place we want him and entirely avoidable if Wolk didn't take offense to reasonable requests such as not giving a drug that is supposed to be spaced EIGHT hours apart, giving it at 2 pm and then at 5 pm (had I not addressed that, that would have gone on until dad dropped dead from an overdose. Instead, he is still in dire condition, but at least no longer slurring his words, which he was doing when the nurse allowed his meds to be administered dangerously close together. And nobody bothered to verify that he needed BP meds -- he did NOT. So that could be what destroyed his kidneys... way too low BP combo with toxins of meds not being spaced out...) I do realize that all assisted living facilities are understaffed, etc., etc., etc. COVID, etc. I have incredible grace and patience for that. I know we're dealing with human being employees and not machines. As such, I treat my fellow humans --even those who are spacing meds out incorrectly or dangerously-- with grace and compassion. But to be gaslighted so they don't have to be bothered by my requests and advocacy, which is gentle and understanding (I have loads of email and video evidence), is unacceptable. 10 days earlier, I asked them to stop giving his vitamins and meds on an empty stomach at 6 am. Kathy and Brittany Serens the head nurse, said she would take care of that, but a week later, he was still given 2 ounces of water, no food, and the entire pile of meds and vitamins. Do I expect these people to peel grapes for dad and massage his feet? No. Do I expect them (and demand?) that they give safe levels and hour spacing of his meds? YES. And I expect them to give me the respect I gave them in bringing my dad to be a resident and communicating via respectful emails. This is not their modus at Wolk Manor- they don't want interference of ANY kind, even that which helps enhance and prolong the life of one of the residents for whom they claim to care. I do not recommend Wolk Manor assisted living if you love your loved one.