Gargoyle
On behalf of a friend. The E,R, for psych is disgraceful, human waste on the floor. The unit upstairs is sanitary. The activities they offer are few and not well announced so you can miss a group you want. Patients are watched every single second, even in the visitors room where you want privacy. Watchdogs. It seems to me that no one is encouraging the ones who need it to try getting out of bed a bit and socializing. Many things are not allowed to be given to patients- pens, soap superior to hospital soap, dental floss, shoes with laces,no tiny rubber bands or scrunchies to hold hair, no hardcover books (How can you harm yourself with those?), no CDs (including player), no MP3s, no cell phone. Definitely no balloons. If you want to bring a gift, it's best to use a paper bag which they will reject because they prefer their own paper bags. Patients are not given a choice of food for their meals. Not enough drinks are made available. Not enough food for evening snacks is made available. Visitors may not walk around the unit. (What are they trying to hide?) I personally saw 2 watchdogs verbally and emotionally abuse a middle age woman with a physical handicap, they denied her a seat while they made her stay in the waiting room because their visitors room wasn't ready on time. The watchdog at the visitors' room can choose to close up early if the room is empty except for one visitor hoping her niece will still come back after an anxiety attack. I haven't left from any visits feeling that my friend was getting the best care. I have now seen 3 psych units in different hospitals. This is the only one I call a jail.