I recently escaped this place, and thank God I did. I was able to breathe fresh air, instead of…read moreinhaling smoke everywhere--whether it be cigs, vapes or the residual smell on people's clothing as they passed me by. I ended up with laryngitis by the time I got home, barely able to speak, coughing, etc. I am a non-smoker, and literally found no one else at the facility who was one, too. I was put in a room with three other females, all of whom smoked. Talk about fun. There is no option to stay away from the smokers, nor was I offered an alternate route from this.
When I first arrived I sauntered into the "living room" where they have a big couch and some board games stashed away. I immediately heard loud music outside and a bunch of people chain smoking. Eventually I tried to go outside, but was smacked with a thick fog of smoke. I was nauseous, and had to go back inside. The music was way too loud, as well. It's basically like a bar out there, just without the alcohol.
Feeling alone, I didn't have many people to talk to, since 90% smoked and only cared about vaping and lighting up cigs. Even the staff would get out of their seat to smoke outside with the residents!
I finally had enough, and wanted to leave. Of course, they bounced me from employee to employee, trying to keep me there. I stood firm and explained I was not feeling well (I had a mask on at that point). Additionally, my mother just had cancer removed from her face, and when I tried to call her (good luck trying to use your phone; they play run-around with letting you call someone, and even then I was only allowed to use THEIR phone), there was no answer. I was naturally concerned for my 80-year-old mother, so this was a secondary reason I wanted to get out of there. Lastly, the money. I was worried about the cost, deductible, etc. Being new at it all, this was a growing concern for me.
I could tell everyone I spoke to thought I was making excuses, when everything was a valid reason, namely the stupid smoke. Naturally, since all of them smoked, they're going to get defensive. One staff member told me there were pockets of time I could go outside when no one is around. When? Four in the morning when I'm sleeping? Every time I tried to go out there, a crew of people were present, smoking as usual.
They have a weight room, but I never got to try it, since they're VERY specific on when you can use it. Plus, someone has to let you in and be present. Funny how they allow smokers to inhale to their heart's content, keeping that ol' addiction alive and well, yet the weight room--which is a healthy habit--is super-restricted. Gotta love the contradiction.
While the food is decent, and they always have snacks, the place is boring. Only thing people did was pace and smoke, pace and smoke, pace and smoke. You're allowed to vape inside the facility, too, which is crazy. Also, they have grocery day, and you provide them a list of what you need. But guess what? Their first stop is to the Hippie Hut Vape Shop--NOT a grocery store. That's the prioritizing the facility runs.
The rooms you stay in? Well, small cot for a bed, the pillows are horrible (better bring your own) and the bathroom is tiny with no fan. Also, the sink has zero room to lay out stuff. I had to put a couple of items on the edge of the dresser nearby, only for the female using the bed next to it, to start whining and complaining about it.
The air is super-dry in there, too. No doubt a result of the vaping day and night. The female near me would pass out with the vape clung in her hand, like a pacifier. Place is supposedly trying to remove addiction, yet promotes just another addiction. It's pointless going there.
Oh, and another thing to note: They allowed a lady with a supposed "emotional support" dog to roam around. It was an 80-lb German shepherd, too. What if someone was afraid of dogs? Or had allergies? Or all kinds of other BS that could've gone wrong? How is this OK to lug around a huge dog like that?
I decided to leave early, and the one guy tells me he's going to have to put me down as ADA (against doctor's advice). Wonderful. And whose fault is this? And now my deductible will get eaten alive because, through no fault of my own, I had to leave. Thanks, Evoke, for making my stay garbage.
