Posted on 09/28/2004 6:51:09 AM PDT by Homo_homini_lupus
Baby boomers have revolutionized music, food, fashion, childbirth and sex. Finally, they're focusing on something important.
Nursing homes.
"I aim to close every nursing home in America," says geriatrician William Thomas, 44. "And I have 77 million allies. [Boomers] are going to resist being institutionalized on a massive scale."
Hell no, we won't go! But ... where else is there?
Right now, Thomas admits, there aren't many options. Either you can live alone, which gets boring. Or you can enter a "home." To younger folks, maybe a 180-bed institution looks like a place to make 179 new friends. But to elders, it looks like a place filled with 179 strangers - one of whom will be sharing the bathroom.
"Residents are expected to surrender autonomy and personal dignity in return for their reliance on the staff," writes Thomas in his electrifying new book, "What Are Old People For?" No wonder the residents get depressed. But what's the alternative?
Frat houses.
Or, as Thomas calls them, Green Houses. Same deal (minus the kegs): A group of people choosing to share a house and the activities of everyday life.
Rather than "getting services" - the nursing home goal - the Green House goal is "convivium," says Thomas: Relishing good food with good friends. In fact, the whole day is organized around preparing meals.
[...snip...]
(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...
Medical marijuana is legal in the western states. Perhaps Cheech and Chong should open a franchise for The Old Dopers Home.
I used to do construction inspections on nursing homes and they are declining. Primarily this is because in-home services are much better. This "Green House" idea is moronic, however.
People who want to hang with a bunch of other people already do it; we call them "roommates". People who need some help and want to hang with strangers go into "assisted living".
It's typical of the Boomer mindset to propose a solution for a problem that doesn't really exist. I hated dorm life when I was a kid, I can't imagine trying it when geezerhood arrives.
I keep threatening my daughter and son-in-law that I will get a trailer and set it up in their yard so they can take care of me in my old age.
SSBN which one? I got a tour of the Pennsylvannia once.
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