Day fifteen: the rules are now in writing

Two weeks ago, Trudy was taken from her home in Gouda. Today, on day fifteen, the rules governing contact with her family were put in writing for the first time.

What the facility has set down in writing

In an email to her son, the facility describes the arrangements established “in consultation with the treating physicians and the care coordinator”:

Her son may speak with his mother by telephone for a maximum of fifteen minutes per day, via the ward’s phone. He is welcome to visit once a week, for a maximum of one hour, supervised on the ward. And there is a third rule: during these contact moments, there is to be no discussion of a possible return home, or of any other subject related to discharge.

Trudy lived independently for more than thirty years. On July 6, during a home-care meeting, she asked for more home care. Fifteen days later, it is on paper that her wish to go home may not be a topic of conversation — not even with her own son.

What her son replied

Her son accepted the daily phone contact in writing the same day and asked for the ward’s number and a fixed calling time. In doing so, he put on record that his mother retains the right to express her own wishes, and that he assumes the restrictions have been formally established and are open to review.

Also today

The municipality of Gouda confirmed receipt of the follow-up letter concerning the documents that have still not been provided to Trudy. A substantive response has been promised.

This coming Friday, July 24, Trudy turns 83. It will be her first birthday inside a closed facility.

This post is based on written documents in the family’s possession. Staff members are not named. Where positions or interpretations are described, they are identified as such.