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."
Well, hell, burn 'em up or blow 'em up!!! Living that long is costing the hell outta you and me...Just kill 'em outright!!!
It's not her home as in owning a home. She shares an environment - aka a nursing home with others. I find it interesting that this basic stuff has to be explained to you.
The heartless ones are those who would force others to inhale their carbon monoxide and tar. The good lady has choices: go live wih daughter or go live in another nursing home that allows smoking and smoke to her heart's (and lungs') content!
This is really elementary: what don't you understand about it?
No -- and since you're not near me, you must be smelling yourself.
Yeah....I'm the dense one.
You of ALL people don't have to explain anything to me!
Did you NOT read the below statement???? They HAVE a smoking room!!!!!
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.
Oh...they closed the smoking room...time to move!!
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.
The heartless ones are those who would force others to inhale their carbon monoxide and tar.
Sure, but I don't hogtie you in the garage with the exhaust going. Get a grip.
Sure, but I don't hogtie you in the garage with the exhaust going. Get a grip
I find it interesting that this basic stuff has to be explained to you.
Whoops, 93, not 98.
Bookmarking
Carbon monoxide still comes out of your car.
Some genius should invent the "smoking tent". I mean if we can do an oxygen tent why not a smoking tent ?
I used to work in a nursing home. Your cartoon reminded me of one old lady who had a plaque up on her wall which read :
There once was a lady who never drank smoked cussed or anything. She lived to be a hundred and five and regreted every minute of it.
She must have been a real firecracker in her day.
Read it again Sam, she only took up smoking 10 years ago.
Ping.
So why do you think this is your problem?
LOL!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.