Visiting hours in the age of Covid take two
By TheRealDawn
@dawnald (85137)
Shingle Springs, California
July 21, 2020 8:30pm CST
The last post with the picture of my dad visiting his wife through the window was taken at the rehab that she's at, but the day after that picture was taken she was moved back to the hospital because of some symptoms that were worrying, and she was there for 6 days, back in the rehab today. The visitation at the hospital was better than the rehab, but it was crazy. Different doors and different rules almost every day. Now I understand that we don't want a bunch of 88 year olds getting covid, or anybody else really, but is this crazy?
Day minus one - before I got to Fallon, the hospital was enforcing a one person at a time rule, but they allowed my sister to go up with my dad since he can't walk that far.
Day one - 5 days later, back in the hospital, I park close to the main entrance so that dad doesnt have to walk too far only to find out that that door is locked (some kind of maintenance) so we have to walk over to the physician's clinic entrance. We go inside, and it's a one visitor at a time rule, but they allow me to put him in a wheelchair and push him there. Step-brother Stephen came and visited earlier soon after we found out that she was moved back to the hospital.
Day two - I park closer to the physicians clinic door so he doesn't have to walk too far, and it's locked and I see that the main entrance is open, so we walk there. This time, they say I can't go up, and they send a nurse down to wheel him up there. I am allowed to wait in the lobby (it was 100 outside every day I was there) until he's wheeled back down again. Step-brother was there earlier for a visit that day also.
Day three - I park by the main entrance, and lo, it is actually unlocked. We go inside and are told that neither of us can go up and visit because Stephen was there earlier that day. So apparently that day was a one visitor a day rule.
Day four - I let Stephen know in advance that it's dad's turn to visit. We park by the main entrance. We walk up there and the door is locked. No sign. I call the hospital and they say to go to the emergency room. They won't let me go in with dad, and while I'm waiting out in the wheelchair area while the nurse ask dad what his name is (I had already told her who he was visiting before she wheeled him in). Dad has aphasia and is answering her with numbers and pretty much everything but his name. I laugh, she hears me and asks, so I tell her. Nurse comes out and tells me I can't wait in the wheelchair area either. I give her a grumpy look and remind her that it's 100 outside. She suggests I go home and come back. I give her the stink eye and go find a bench over by the other entrance that's in the shade and call Jane and tell her what's going on and to call me when they wheel dad down.
Day 5 - Step-brother texts and says he is visiting, so we don't even try.
Day 6 - I'm home and my sister is on duty. I don't know what door she used, but they allowed her to wheel dad upstairs, but then had to go back downstairs and wait. Not sure who wheeled him downstairs.
Day 7 - they sneaked in another visit before Stephen could go, not sure what the arrangements were this time. Then they moved her back to the rehab who refused to give her any pain meds until they filled her prescriptions, and now it's visiting through the window or talking on the phone.
Again, I'm happy that they are enforcing rules to prevent the spread of Covid, but I with they had been consistent so that we would know what to expect.
The day they turned us away, as soon as we got out the door, dad asked, clear as a bell, "what is all this bullsh*t?" He's a lot easier to understand when he's angry.
Jane has some symptoms that are very worrying, btw, so as many visits as he can have with her, it's important that he have them. Ugh.
6 people like this
6 responses
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Jul 20


Oh my gosh - I agree some consistency would be much appreciated . . . that is nuts! It's as if you need to call them every single day you intend to visit but still it shouldn't be that different each day. Your dad summed it up well
. I hope Jane can get better so she can just stay in one spot . . . that is so difficult on her as well as your dad. Your step brother seems to really want to make sure he gets in his visits too!3 people like this
@psanasangma (7910)
• India
22 Jul 20
My India country is souring with positive cases. We are hoping this will subside soon..
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
22 Jul 20
Do they allow visitors there to meet the Covid patients?
2 people like this
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
22 Jul 20
@dawnald ohk...that is fine then
2 people like this








