
My parents moved into IL last September. We live in an area that does get several snowstorms each winter. The storm we had in November, resulted in the courtyard area of their IL still have icy patches on the sidewalk a week after the storm came through. This courtyard was "sold" to us as a great benefit for residents with dogs (who pay $1200 per year in pet fees) because it allows the residents a safe, enclosed space to walk their dogs. With this current storm that hit most of us, our snow stopped on Sunday morning. The sidewalk from the building to the garages (that are not attached to the building) wasn't cleared until this (Monday) morning. The sidewalks inside the courtyard have still not been cleared and my parents were told they are going to try to get to them tomorrow morning. Am I expecting too much to assume that the drives, parking lots, sidewalks and dog-walking areas would be cleared within 24 hours of the snow stopping? We are having a LOT of issues with over-promised, under-delivered expectations at this facility. The thing is my parents are already pushing to come home. This just makes it harder. They can't walk to their car safely. They can't walk the dog safely. My mom told me on the phone that she almost asked for the shovel so she could clear the sidewalks. WHAT? That is exactly why we worked so hard to move them into IL. So they wouldn't shovel snow and fall. So they wouldn't trim tree limbs and hit their head. So they wouldn't fix something on the roof and fall off. Am I off base here expecting the facility to clear the sidewalks quickly? Point of reference, we live in central Illinois. Snow isn't a rarity here. Everyone has at least one snow shovel and most people have snow blowers. We have the tools to clear snow here.
But you are not responsible for your parents happiness . If they choose to be miserable like many do that’s on them .
You didn’t make them old . It’s up to them to make the most of their time left .
I suggest you hire a dog walker and stop going out in bad weather, even after the area is shoveled.
Your parents will likely come up with 100 more reasons they dislike IL. It's the nature of the beast. As if their home is a utopian palace, huh? 🤣
I also imagine it's justifiably doubly frustrating for you, because you are bearing the brunt of your parents' frustration, which is never easy even in ideal circumstances (which this so wasn't).
In any event, I'm glad the facility is clearing out the courtyard so your parents can safely walk their dog. And hopefully the worst of the snow season is behind us.
Facilities like this usually hire outside help and its all about availability. I would compain about not having access to take the dog out. Large tarps can be put out before the storm and taken up after the storm. This storm came with ice later on. Even if parents were in their own home, they should not be going outside.
Maybe a solution might be, if you are willing and able, to offer to take your parents' dog the next time a snowstorm is expected. This way, they don't have to worry about having to get out to walk the animal. Once everything is clear, the pet can be returned.
I think a grace period should be given with this storm. I live in Buffalo NY and we try our best to clear sidewalks and driveways but some times it is futile until a few days later.
Just remember that your parents are adjusting and not happy about the situation regardless of snow. Ask them today if things are better, have them take pictures of not shoveled yet to show to management.
Good luck and remember if it were sunny and 80 degrees with slight breeze they may still have complained.
20 years ago my husband would help our neighbor with his plow business. Which meant he was out of the house for much of the actual storm, and the cleanup afterwards. So I had to take point on digging out the house after, the paths and decks and stairways. The only thing he could do while he was out plowing was the driveway.
This was one of those storms that was so severe it's going to take about a week for things to get back to "normal".
Part of the problem is there is now a labor shortage of working age people and a preponderance of Boomers needing services. Sorry, but based on what I've now learned I think yours is not a realistic expectation. In the past it would have been, but not nowadays. I'm right there with ya. We have 2 driveways to shovel and we're in our late 60s.
As others have suggested review the contract. You may be able to negotiate a discount if you wind up finding someone to shovel just your parents' area -- but I'm thinking they won't allow it for the ever infamous "liability" reasons.