Posted on 09/26/2006 12:45:51 AM PDT by SheLion
Delaware County's ban on smoking in most work places has become a problem for some nursing homes, which are both work places for employees and homes for the residents.
The smoking ordinance does not prevent people from smoking in their homes, but it does ban smoking in most public buildings and work spaces.
If a nursing home bans smoking, they could lose federal funding for failing to comply with regulations, but if they allow smoking they could face fines or a lawsuit from the county health department, officials said.
Federal regulations state that if a nursing home changes its policy and bans smoking, it must create an appropriate area for current residents to continue smoking.
Robin Shackleford, a policy and research specialist for the Indiana Health Care Association, said nursing homes could jeopardize their Medicaid and Medicare funding if they follow the county's ban.
"This is not a health issue - it's a patients' rights issue," Shackleford said. "The facilities are caught in the middle of deciding which law to comply with."
To fix the problem, Delaware County commissioners have introduced an ordinance to exempt nursing homes from the smoking ban. But two of the three commissioners say they don't plan to approve the exemption when final action is taken on Oct. 2.
Commissioner Larry Crouch said smoking should not be allowed in nursing homes.
"How many people are in these nursing homes because of a smoking habit?" Crouch asked.
No, the article is about a county government's smoking ban causing trouble in nursing homes.
Yet the federal government is protecting the "right" you claim.
Correct. Too bad you have to be in a nursing home to enjoy that right and that protection.
This "right" will stop soon at any rate because of the liability concerns.
Heavy smoking is one of the best ways to make sure you never have to enter a nursing home. Probably the best.
So will the right to enjoy a Big Mac. I'm sure that will make you very happy.
Paranoia knows no bounds. Watching it on display does not make me happy.
You can have the last word on this irrelevancy.
There was a similar rule about alcohol in my great aunts nursing home. She started each day with a shot of blackberry brandy for years.
My Dad and uncle would take turns smuggling it in.
You know that they are trying to ban trans fat in NYC don't you? After all it is for the children.
Yeah, so what? In Chicago they have banned foie gras (?). The right of state and local governments to do stupid things is guaranteed by the Tenth amendment.
I work in an insurance company and the collection of claim photos where just such a scenario has played out too many times to count depicts some of the worst ways to die one can imagine.
First off, describing elderly people as "geezers" shows disrespect IMO. If you happen to survive into your 60s and beyond, just wait and see if you appreciate being denigrated as a "geezer".
Most of the elderly in our midst deserve praise for living unspoiled lifestyles...living according to their means without credit cards, school buses, big-screen TVs, and on and on.
There's no reason on earth why nursing home residents who enjoy a smoke should not be provided an area in which to enjoy one of their few relaxing pleasures. Those among them who have maintained their mental faculties realize that this is their last stop before their death.
Your "warning" of a patient on oxygen setting "the place on fire" just shows more of your ignorance on the subject.
In any setting, smoking, fire from any source is banned around oxygen. If such a tragedy occurred, the blame lies squarely on the facility, not the patient.
All I'm asking is for you to take a look at the bigger picture and muster up a little more respect and compassion for the elderly.
Thanks for your speedy reply. You should know that the first sign of geezerhood is the loss of a sense of humor. The second and undeniable sign is an unwillingness to assign personal responsibility to other geezers who break the rules and smoke around oxygen. Full-fledged geezers always blame the facility in such cases. Way back in the '60's I worked in a hospital where people of all ages routinely ignored such warnings. A couple of them found out that the reason for the warning is well-founded.
BTW at the age of 57, I've discovered all I need to about how people treat those among us who are older than average.
Thanks for your speedy reply. You should know that the first sign of geezerhood is the loss of a sense of humor. The second and undeniable sign is an unwillingness to assign personal responsibility to other geezers who break the rules and smoke around oxygen. Full-fledged geezers always blame the facility in such cases. Way back in the '60's I worked in a hospital where people of all ages routinely ignored such warnings. A couple of them found out that the reason for the warning is well-founded.
BTW at the age of 57, I've discovered all I need to about how people treat those among us who are older than average.
So...you are in favor of pushing granny down the stairs?
For heaven's sake, this is elder abuse.
First, let me say I'm sorry for calling you ignorant.
You have a right to your opinion although I don't completely agree with you. For instance, I don't know how you define "geezer". If you take it to mean people who have reached a certain age, many will vouch for older people with a great sense of humor! Some get more fun out of life than many who are years younger.
You saw people of all ages ignore warnings, including not smoking around oxygen.
ALL ages! Yet you put the blame on "geezers", saying they blame the facility rather than demand personal responsibility from other "geezers".
I can only think that anyone who is "uncomfortable" with taking personal responsibility...those who HAVE to find someone else to blame...probably did that all their lives. They just didn't adopt this mindset when they got older.
What about common sense? Common sense says ANY kind of fire where oxygen is in use is deadly.
Sadly, many people in nursing homes are no longer "with it". The facility IS responsible for them, and every other person in that home. That's what they are paid to do.
...I've discovered all I need to about how people treat those among us who are older than average.
An interesting comment! If you will, I'd like to know why you say this. Really!
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