With the help of the blogger peanut gallery, I got my mother to buy a fire alarm to keep her from dying. I've got another one for you.
My mother is a retired 70 year old woman. She lives in a large apartment building, and her upstairs neighbor is doing renovations to her apartment for three months. From 9 to 5 every single weekday, there is constant drilling, hammering, etc.
Obviously, these hours were chosen because most people are at work. But my mother is retired. And she has trouble sleeping at night, so she often sleeps during the day, except now she can't. It got so bad that she stayed at a hotel for a few days which costs a million dollars a day in Manhattan. She ended up coming down with a bad cold due to the stress of it.
And there are still two months left.
Is there anything she can do about this?
Get her some good headphones. The good thing about not sleeping during the day is that she should sleep better at night!
ReplyDeleteIf you're talking something she can do to prevent her neighbors from making noise during the remodeling phase, I would hope that the answer is "no." Unless the person doesn't have permission for the changes from the apartment building or the permitting authorities, but-- people have to have time in which to get work done, and the fact that they're sticking to 9-5 on weekdays, means that they're already getting it done in a respectful way.
ReplyDeleteOptions for your mom would include sound blocking-- headphones/earplugs or getting out of town. Aside from you, does she have friends or family she could visit? Or vacations she'd like to take? A hotel in Manhattan is not her only option for a place to go. Why not encourage her to look at this as an opportunity to do some things she'd enjoy that take her away from her home base.
I'm not sure if it's reasonable for a retired person with health problems not to be in their home Monday through Friday from 9 to 5 for 3 months.
DeleteThe turn-around question is "When should the renovations be made?" I'm not trying to come off as hard-hearted, but as has been pointed out, whoever is behind the renovations is already trying to do them with minimal impact. You know better than I, but the best recommendation I have is either sleep meds (unless they would interfere with other meds) to sleep at night or some high powered ear plugs. My father in law got some foam ones for shooting, they are the best I've ever used.
DeletePerhaps there is empty space in the building,that can be used as a temporary "quiet zone/rest area". Contact the building management to see if something can be worked out. If there are others being affected then they might benefit as well.
ReplyDeleteTwo months left? Have you ever met a contractor who finishes on time?
ReplyDeleteThis really sucks, I'm sorry you're dealing with it. I'm myself suffering now from "legitimate" noise from my neighbors and it affects my quality of life to the point of wanting to move out.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, does she own the apartment or is it rental? If it's a rental, check the lease and contract and see if there is any violation. Perhaps the management has another apartment she could temporarily use. And check NYC laws about how long construction can keep going in residential buildings. However, given that the noise is constant from 9-5pm, it seems like they can't speed the work up. Finding her a temporary place (I know! huge cost!) might be the only solution.
Perhaps a sublet (airbnb etc), or some motels have monthly living deals I believe (Le quinta - we had a fellow who lived at the le quinta for a year).
ReplyDeleteProbably nothing can be done.
ReplyDeleteI work night shifts. Ongoing renovations from the upstairs apartment meant I moved into a friend's loungeroom to escape it, so I could actually get some sleep.
A long cruise...... Medical personnel always on board.
ReplyDeletenoise cancelling headphones, the expensive ones
ReplyDeleteHave her move with you. So nice to be helping your parent, and so precious for grandchildren to be with caring grandparent.
ReplyDeleteShe would never stay with us. The few times she's spent one night, she's hated it.
DeleteShucks! You can't even be a loving supportive daughter and she can't even be a loving supportive grandma helping you to drive children, cook dinner and do the homework.
DeleteMom needs to sleep better at night - sleeping in the day is making that worse. She can see if the apartment would allow her to temporarily move into an empty place, but that's going to cost her. If she rents, they might decrease her rent temporarily. Otherwise, Mom needs to deal or leave. :( VRBO is a good way to find longer term rentals. Travel to another state and stay in a hotel there - bound to be cheaper than Manhattan. Stay in hotels that rent by the month. Or I totally vote to go on a cruise - my grandfather was quite ill and the cruise ships were great.
ReplyDelete