Posted on 02/26/2006 4:41:16 AM PST by SheLion
A WOMAN in a wheelchair must go outside into the cold weather for a cigarette even though she is 93 - because smoking is banned in her nursing home.
Gladys Gornall, known as Chris, of the Norwood Lodge Nursing Home in Nore Road, Portishead, took up smoking 10 years ago after her husband died.
Daughter Joan Mock, 68, says it is the only thing she has left that keeps her happy.
And she says she fears her mother is more likely to die from exposure to cold winter weather than from smoking.
Mrs Mock said: "She's 93, she's in a wheelchair and she has to smoke outside. Last week I had to stand outside with her with an umbrella over her while it rained. We know it's not politically correct any more, but she is old and she will die of hypothermia rather than smoking at this rate."
Mrs Gornall said: "I'm sick and tired of going out there in the cold. I'm fed up with the whole situation. What else have I got to look forward to? I've got no other pleasures."
Mrs Mock said the home used to have a small room where smokers could light up. But she said the smoking ban in the building has now been enforced for health and safety reasons.
She said: "For God's sake, what can she do? There aren't any other smokers in the home now. This is all she has left as her bit of independence. It's so pathetic."
She said relatives of other residents at the home have sympathised with Mrs Gornall's plight.
The only real health problem the pensioner has is osteoarthritis in her knees.
Mrs Mock said: "She says they aren't going to stop her having a fag."
Mrs Gornall moved into the home with her husband, Albert, in 1996 but he died within weeks of their arrival. She took up smoking soon after his death.
Gill Lee, group operations manager for Belmont Care, which owns the home, said the non-smoking policy had been in place since before Mrs Gornall went into the nursing home. She said: "We've had a policy for years in Norwood Lodge of no smoking, mainly on health and safety grounds.
"Mrs Gornall, her daughter and her social worker had a meeting with the matron in May 2005 to explain to her the no-smoking policy in the home, and this was confirmed to her in writing."
She said none of the staff smoke inside the building. But she would not comment on whether the company's policy on enforcing the smoking ban had been tightened.
And she said allowing Mrs Gornall just to smoke in her own room would be "even worse".
She said: "To allow smoking in their room would cause even more health and safety issues."
Why? Please explain.
I forgot to tell you my favorite. Mixing acetylene and oxygen in a baloon, or whatever is handy. GO BOOM! We did this in vocational school, drove the instructor mad. We'd probably go to jail for it in today's academic climate. Well, most of us in this line of work ain't right anyway. My point is Plain oxygen out of the bottle will not GO BOOM.
We already had it figured out that you used to smoke, nothing louder than a reformed sinner.
Send the neighbor boy and tip him five bucks.
Unfortunately (I guess), I don't have osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease.
That is very true, I always say that I've got to be the worst ex-smoker you ever want to meet. Especially if I've been taking steroids. :-) There really is something to that "roid rage" they talk about.
That was a cool post, liquid o2. I enjoyed it.
Memory-induced hypersensitivity.
Do you turn into Lou Ferrigno? Just kidding.
My husband would probably say, "YES".
You might have something there, except I've seen my chest x-rays and CT scans. yuck!
Any site that accepts or sponsors links of that nature can surely be improved upon as a reference; my points here are that you mustn't take other's inadvertent behavior personally.
This thread began because the specific case described was a perfect irony in a very imperfect world and was not intended for dissection or forensic analysis.
I was referring to the odor; many newer cars have activated charcoal cabin air filters that are part of the scheduled maintenance program outlined in the owner's manual, although I know everyone isn't prepared to just run out and buy a new car for that benefit.
And a no-smoking policy in a home is a very good idea. One semi-coherant Alzheimer's patient falls asleep smoking and a dozen moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas go up in flames.
You speak for yourself.
And see post 174.
What? She didn't know the rules when she moved in??
How are apartments designed to prevent smoke infiltration? Apparently, this apartment wasn't designed that way!! I know that I sound like one of those intolerant non-smokers, but I don't think it's unreasonable to wish for a place that doesn't smell like your neighborhood bar 24 hours a day.
I didnt think it would need it LOL.
Gladys needs to get a boyfriend overdose him on Viagra and forget Cigarettes.
Go to your local government site and read your fire codes.
I guess Poster #36 is right I should have added the sarcasm tag. I didnt think it was necessary. Of course I was kidding.
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