What would you do?

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
I deliver meals to elderly and shut-ins. The program had implemented a new rule recently that if no one is at home, even if the door is unlocked and there's a sign to leave the meal, we can't enter the home. Of course, there is always a client that has to be a problem. She is only there about half of the time and there a note on her door to leave the meal. I have pointed out to her several times when she is there and also to her care-giver about the new rule. They both say something to the effect of "Don't pay any attention to that."

Would you leave the meal anyway if the door is open and she's isn't there and has left a note on the door to put the food in the fridge, or would you go along with the rules?
 

debodun said:
I deliver meals to elderly and shut-ins. The program had implemented a new rule recently that if no one is at home, even if the door is unlocked and there's a sign to leave the meal, we can't enter the home. Of course, there is always a client that has to be a problem. She is only there about half of the time and there a note on her door to leave the meal. I have pointed out to her several times when she is there and also to her care-giver about the new rule. They both say something to the effect of "Don't pay any attention to that."

Would you leave the meal anyway if the door is open and she's isn't there and has left a note on the door to put the food in the fridge, or would you go along with the rules?
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Nope. I would leave a note saying sorry but I can't do that. Maybe a couple of times and she might get the hint.
 
I wouldn't leave it inside the house. If the porch was safe and had a little table on it, I'd think about leaving it there, with the explanatory note. Under NO circumstances would I enter the home or even push the meal into the opened door.
 

I may consider leaving it on an enclosed porch, if it was out of site. But with so may issues of people having packages stolen from their porches, I would be hesitant, because what if you delivered it, and then the person complained they did not get it?
My dad got Meals on Wheels delivered, but they would not deliver if he was not home. At the time he still had a car, and drove, but did not go out much. Thing is, they had a policy that if the senior was not at home X number of times, delivery was discontinued, because it was felt if the person was out, they could get their own meal. Sad as it seemed that my dad would have been forced to stay at home.
 
Deb - follow the rules. They are there for your protection. Suppose you go ahead and place the meal in the fridge and Aunt Clara's diamond ring just happens to come up missing. They KNOW you were in the house, so you're suspect #1. Kind hearted people have been set up before.
 
Hoot N Annie said:
Deb - follow the rules. They are there for your protection. Suppose you go ahead and place the meal in the fridge and Aunt Clara's diamond ring just happens to come up missing. They KNOW you were in the house, so you're suspect #1. Kind hearted people have been set up before.
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I agree, follow the rules!

"No good deed goes unpunished" - Clare Boothe Luce
 
I agree with what everybody has said. She has no right to ask you to break the rules, putting yourself at risk.
 
Hoot N Annie said:
Suppose you go ahead and place the meal in the fridge and Aunt Clara's diamond ring just happens to come up missing. They KNOW you were in the house, so you're suspect #1.
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I'm usually in too much of a hurry to get the meals delivered to snoop around. Before the new rule and I did go in her house, I didn't even look up from the floor so as not to be tempted by ANYTHING, even though I still wouldn't take it. I've got enough stuff in my house now! But I'm sure that wouldn't be a good defense. Maybe the new rule was made because a problem like that occurred.

I only deliver 5 or 6 times a month - I don't know what the other drivers do, I don't know who they are, so there's no way to contact them. It used to be we could go in as long as we left it in the fridge - under no circumstances were we to leave it out on a counter or on the porch if nobody was home - the food could spoil if the people were delayed in returning home - I can see that. One time a husband and wife were on my schedule and if the wife wasn't there, the man wouldn't open the door. He'd shout, "Just leave it on the porch steps." I wouldn't do that, especially in the summer.
 
When I was doing field work for the state health department, I HATED it when I encountered an open door. I would NEVER go in. That leaves one open to accusations of theft if it so happens something is missing, for instance. And not for nothing but sometimes elderly people misplace things and think someone took their stuff. And what if for some reason she has a complaint about the food, calls your supervisor and says well she left it here two hours before I got home to eat it and it doesn't taste right. Anything can happen. So you open yourself up for potential problems, not only from the client but from your boss(es).
 
Hoot N Annie said:
Deb - follow the rules. They are there for your protection. Suppose you go ahead and place the meal in the fridge and Aunt Clara's diamond ring just happens to come up missing. They KNOW you were in the house, so you're suspect #1. Kind hearted people have been set up before.
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I agree with Hoot. You could be putting yourself in jeopardy of BIG problems and with no defense at all because you broke the rules.
 
I agree with the others, follow the rules, they are in effect for a reason. Like already said, if something is missing in the house, you can be a suspect. You endanger yourself too, entering someone's house, there might be someone waiting to do you harm. Also, somebody who wants to hurt the person receiving the meal might poison it somehow, and then you or the program would be to blame. Numerous reasons, if they're not there to receive the meal, just forget it and go to your next stop.
 
debodun said:
I deliver meals to elderly and shut-ins. The program had implemented a new rule recently that if no one is at home, even if the door is unlocked and there's a sign to leave the meal, we can't enter the home. Of course, there is always a client that has to be a problem. She is only there about half of the time and there a note on her door to leave the meal. I have pointed out to her several times when she is there and also to her care-giver about the new rule. They both say something to the effect of "Don't pay any attention to that."

Would you leave the meal anyway if the door is open and she's isn't there and has left a note on the door to put the food in the fridge, or would you go along with the rules?
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Nope, follow the rules.
 
If people aren't going to be home, they are supposed to call the meal service and cancel delivery. This often doesn't happen, I go to a house and ring the bell - nobody comes. I ring again and wait - nobody comes. I try the door and find it locked. Obviously no one is there. In that case I have to report it. It bothers me that they don't cancel and I have to take time to stop and wait to see if they are home when other people are waiting for their food. When I see these people again and ask them why they didn't cancel when they weren't going to be home, I either get a shrug or some lame excuse.
 
debodun said:
If people aren't going to be home, they are supposed to call the meal service and cancel delivery. This often doesn't happen, I go to a house and ring the bell - nobody comes. I ring again and wait - nobody comes. I try the door and find it locked. Obviously no one is there. In that case I have to report it. It bothers me that they don't cancel and I have to take time to stop and wait to see if they are home when other people are waiting for their food. When I see these people again and ask them why they didn't cancel when they weren't going to be home, I either get a shrug or some lame excuse.
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It's common courtesy to cancel delivery, not very fair to have someone like you who's trying to do good waste their precious time. What happens to their meals if they aren't home, does the next person opt for a double meal?
 
SeaBreeze said:
What happens to their meals if they aren't home, does the next person opt for a double meal?
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No. All undelivered meals must be returned to the pick-up center. Often they will ask if I want it. I usually will take it since it will only be thrown out anyway. They aren't glamorous meals - they are a lot like TV dinners. A 3-part plastic divided tray containing the protein, starch and vegetable. There is a separate bag with a half-pint of low-fat milk and the dessert (usually some type of canned fruit in a plastic, lidded cup).

Here is a link to the meal menus, if you're curious what is offered in the way of food:
http://www.saratogacountyny.gov/departments/office-for-the-aging/meal-calendar/
 
If you want to keep the job DO NOT break the rule. I think it's a good rule alleviating any accusations. I'd leave her meal on her steps. She knows the rule.
 

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