Charles E. Smith Life Communities

Unfortunately, my mother has been stuck in this place for almost 10 years. The problems in this place include: Elevators that break down regularly The staff uses the emergency public broadcast/ intercom system daily to tell residents about activities and the unregulated cafe they operate- an intrusion of privacy- you cannot escape these unwanted 'announcements' which are available on their TV access channel and other places. My mother has to suffer thru these loud announcements in her apartment daily. Dirty hall ways and laundry room The "cafe" where food is prepared and served (Mondays and Wednesdays lunch)- by untrained, unsupervised senior volunteers. Food is left on counter, volunteers don't wash their hands and the place has operated without the Health Departments knowledge until recently. So there is no oversight or food safety program in place. The dinning plan is mandatory and the food is sub-standard, boring, repetitive and downright insulting. Although they claim to be kosher and cost of the food plan has gone up, the quality has gone down. Cold-cuts and hot dogs are a regular dinner. Vegetables appear to the the rejects- like giant zucchini which is boiled to mush. Dinners often are served cold. It was reported that the oven wasn't working which delayed their dinners. There are possible fire safety issues with the building exit doors. The elevators get backed up so seniors who are mobile enough might take the stairs- except that the stairway door to the lobby is locked. One floor down- the door is an emergency exit which was found to be bolted shut somehow, at the top. Reports have been made to the fire department and health department. If you can avoid this place- do! It is supposed to be 'independent living' However, more and more disabled folks are accepted for residency, even tho they do not have the staff to oversee them. Mom found a woman in the elevator who had fallen out of her wheelchair. What was she to do? No security cameras in the elevator or in the stairwells. Revitz receives public funds. Where's the oversight?