Governor Ron DeSantis reopened long-term care facilities in September and lifted even more restrictions last week. But not all facilities are interpreting the orders the same, with some complying and others still pushing back.
Greg and Jan Caulley's 26-year-old son is in a group home for adults, and they worry now they won't be able to bring him home for the holidays.
The Caulley's became parents on July 8th, 1994 and were eager to start the next chapter with their son.
“I was looking forward to little league baseball and the boy scouts," Greg Caulley said. “I had it all planned out."
But, sometimes, even the best laid plans don't work out. By the time he was three years old, Billy Caulley was diagnosed with severe autism and eventually, the Caulley's had to put him in a group home for safety reasons. They selected one just 10 minutes away from their house and even decided to forgo vacations over the years, for fear something would happen while they were away.
“I tried one time," Greg Caulley said. "I got as far as Ocala, and I said I can’t keep going. And we had to turn around and head back here.”
The Caulleys said the lockdown was especially hard on the family, and while visitation there has resumed, their son's trips home with them are still on hold.
The Caulley's became parents on July 8th, 1994.
"He doesn’t understand why mom and dad aren’t picking him up and bringing him home," Jan Caulley said. "As soon as he realizes he’s not coming home, he tells us ‘mommy leave, leave.’”
The Caulleys now fear Billy won't be able to spend important time with them at their home over the holidays, despite wording in the visitation order that seems to clear the way for residents to leave the facility for some activities. At 26-years-old, Greg Caulley said his son is finally starting to understand the family's traditions, and they are desperate to make up for lost time.
“The part I was looking for in my 30s, now that I’m closing in on 60, I’m finally getting to play, and I like it," Greg Caulley said. "I buy presents for him months in advance. Knowing how excited he gets at Christmas makes it all for me. We live for it.”
Spectrum Bay News 9 has heard from a number of families who have loved ones in nursing homes and assisted living facilities that have been allowed to leave for day trips. But, those long-term care facilities fall under the Agency for Health Care Administration's oversight while the Agency for Persons with Disabilities oversees adult group homes.
AHCA has released guidance for facilities on reopening and put in place a way to file complaints when facilities don't comply. We reached out to APD to see if they are pushing for compliance as well and were sent the following statement:
"The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) has shared the Division of Emergency Management (DEM) Emergency Order related to visitation with its licensed group homes. Group homes are complying with the order and are allowing visitation and day visits."
APD did not respond to our follow-up inquiry about a whether a complaint process is in place for when facilities don't comply.
Those in the Greater Tampa Bay Area experiencing non-compliance with a facility should contact APD's Suncoast Regional Office at
1-800-615-8720 or by emailing the regional manager at Michael.Taylor@apdcares.org