tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post7106488917556082984..comments2023-09-24T01:25:13.638-07:00Comments on Witterings from Witney: 'Care' Homes & SmokingWitteringsfromWitneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16026875251366365154noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-31305049756547057042012-02-12T14:22:51.618-08:002012-02-12T14:22:51.618-08:00MJM: Thanks for the additional update.MJM: Thanks for the additional update.WitteringsfromWitneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16026875251366365154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-75339217474748102942012-02-11T05:50:31.126-08:002012-02-11T05:50:31.126-08:00In case anyone thinks this is an isolated case, it...In case anyone thinks this is an isolated case, it's not. I've gotten a number of emails over the years from sad, frightened, and angry senior citizens faced with similar situations. Here's one that made the news just last week:<br /><br />http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/feb/08/russ-lemmon-smoking-inside-apartment-puts-woman/?partner=RSS<br /><br />Nice of the authorities to offer to "let" her go outside and smoke, isn't it?<br />- MJMMichael J. McFaddenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12181949578184965482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-20382312622556988172012-02-10T14:12:29.422-08:002012-02-10T14:12:29.422-08:00MJM: Thank you for your visit to my humble blog an...MJM: Thank you for your visit to my humble blog and for cross-posting your comment. I could not agree more - and as for 'second-hand smoke', please don't get me started......!<br /><br />That we owe the elderly of today for our 'present' seems to have escaped the notice of those who control us.<br /><br />a5759: I admire the sense of responsibility exhibited by you and your sister. That you have a sister is good - I just have one brother, in Bury, who we see maybe once a year.<br /><br />Your last 17 words resonates with me! I could not bring myself to impose what amounts to that indignity upon my Mother.WitteringsfromWitneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16026875251366365154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-80954631478809511122012-02-10T11:36:03.587-08:002012-02-10T11:36:03.587-08:00WfW, I too have an ageing mother, whom I love very...WfW, I too have an ageing mother, whom I love very much. The thought of her going into a "care" home sends shudders down my spine. Although I work full time I have moved in to her house to provide some company and of course the chores which keep her active. When the time comes for the rather more messy duties I will hand over to my sister. I am fortunate that the two of us can share these responsibilities because, like you, I could not do these things any more than she would allow me to.andy5759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-58743175679909056922012-02-10T10:23:59.860-08:002012-02-10T10:23:59.860-08:00I just posted the following to the news article an...I just posted the following to the news article and thought I shoudl share it here too:<br /><br />==<br />“A spokesman for the care home said: ‘Canmore Lodge can confirm that they will be closing the smoking room at the home as the health and wellbeing of our residents is always our utmost priority.’ ”<br /><br />Absolute nonsense. I defy Canmore Lodge to provide even a single scientific study showing real harm to people from the levels of smoke that would be expected to migrate from that “smoking room” to other residents in the home. There are none. There may be “statements” from authoritative advocates and their organizations, there may be generalized “reports” offering opinions about studies, there may be studies showing that it is possible to measure microscopic traces of elements in the air, but if you actually look at the literature you will find NOTHING that offers the evidence of real harm that would justify such an action.<br /><br />In reality such a ban could actually INCREASE the one arguable threat, the threat of accidental fire. With a proper smoking room containing fire safety devices (ashtrays), a minimum of flammable materials, and subject to a monitoring situation, the risk of such a fire is near zero. Remove that room and the risk of hidden smoking, without ashtrays, in rooms filled with flammable materials, and in situations where butts are likely to be quickly and improperly disposed of upon approach of authority… and you have created a situation that is BEGGING for accidental fires.<br /><br />If such fires ever happen in this or in any other such housing situation where smoking has been banned I hope the people affected do everything in their power to go after the legal liability of those who imposed the bans in full knowledge of the increased risks they were creating. The bans are NOT being imposed because of concerns about the health and well-being of nonsmokers: they are simply being imposed to socially engineer the affected smokers into the “proper” nonsmoking behavior.<br /> <br />Michael J. McFadden<br />Author of “Dissecting Antismokers’ Brains”Michael J. McFaddenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12181949578184965482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-15912697145225472342012-02-10T02:13:52.890-08:002012-02-10T02:13:52.890-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.livescorehttp://www.7mscore.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-59644829202591593962012-02-10T01:55:44.816-08:002012-02-10T01:55:44.816-08:00In "other" news the Canmore Lodge Care H...In "other" news the Canmore Lodge Care Home has just been renamed and re-opened by Mr. Alex Salmon (:-))…<br /><br />Hereinafter, it shall be known as the Canmore Lodge Workhouse.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-2787077432756183022012-02-09T14:06:57.448-08:002012-02-09T14:06:57.448-08:00WfW, forgive me if I give the impression of making...WfW, forgive me if I give the impression of making judgement. I am not. We all do what we can. That's all we can do. I suppose, in my clumsy way, I'm agreeing with what you have said. And challenge the home's policy on smoking. It's just cruel and callous to house people and then deprive them of basic freedoms. And being old and powerless, these officals follow their own logic regardless of how it affects the individual. While I think that places such as old peoples homes and social workers etc attract many callous people, I think in the main they follow a flawed logic, which prevents them from seeing what they are doing and allows them to justify their actions. A bit like the concentration camp guards. They'd probably never allow their own parents to live under such conditions, but can't translate that to a sense of humanity towards others. I hope this makes sense.john in cheshirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00179825507377423624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-69586946303068344962012-02-09T13:32:11.830-08:002012-02-09T13:32:11.830-08:00jic: As I say, it is down to personal ability etc....jic: As I say, it is down to personal ability etc.....<br /><br />I visit her every Sunday - she only has a half pension which all goes in care home fees, I buy all her clothes and anything else she needs, I take her fresh flowers every week.<br /><br />Yes I would dearly like to do more, to give her 24/7 personal care, but I can't afford that.WitteringsfromWitneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16026875251366365154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-11670126252589092942012-02-09T13:28:54.961-08:002012-02-09T13:28:54.961-08:00It's not admirable, and neither is it always p...It's not admirable, and neither is it always pleasant. But it's just something that I feel I have to do. I'd love to emigrate to NZ, I think, but while she's here, then that plan has to wait. Also, I suppose that as one gets older, one tends to stay near to those who might just feel some familial obligation to look after me as I approach a similar end. On that, mind, I'm not too hopeful, so I'll end up in one of those godforsaken edifices to man's inhumanity to man, the old folks home.john in cheshirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00179825507377423624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-24895180089397208142012-02-09T12:56:06.169-08:002012-02-09T12:56:06.169-08:00jic: I admire your effort! It is very much a perso...jic: I admire your effort! It is very much a personal thing for me - I just could not handle taking care of her bathing and toilet needs - I felt she would be embarrassed as was I most definitely.......WitteringsfromWitneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16026875251366365154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8861279106331108648.post-60571663654755779552012-02-09T12:31:56.406-08:002012-02-09T12:31:56.406-08:00My mother is approaching 81 and she is getting inc...My mother is approaching 81 and she is getting increasingly frail and forgetful. But, for reasons similar to those you highlight (though she is not a smoker) I will try my best to look after her in her own house, rather than put her in a 'home'. If you can't do the things in a place for which vast amounts of money are paid in order to live there, that one would do in one's own home then what's the point of them. We seem to be slowly adopting the policy of euthanasia that was invented and pursued by the socialists and communists at the beginning of the last century. Soylent Green, anyone?john in cheshirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00179825507377423624noreply@blogger.com