Our geriatrics

I was in an assisted living facility the other day. I was noticing a few things...

1. The facility has placed "name tags" on the doors of many of the residents. These name tags are "art" that the resident made. It looks like a freakin' kindergarden hallway instead of adult apartments. It is not "cute". IMO it is an insult on the dignity of the residents, whether they have dementia or not. They are adults and should be treated and respected as such...my little soap box I know. I'm just sayen...it aint right.

Anywhoooo....

2. There is a kitchen area or dining area or snack area...not really sure what you would call it, but the residents can access it by will when hungry or thirsty or what have you, even the old lady that they want to loose some weight (although she is 91, leave her the hell alone is my thinking), the demented that can't remember that they can't swallow, etc, and the alcoholics. They have beer and wine in the refrigerator. Should this be an issue? Are there geriatric alcoholics with dementia, are they still alcoholics and shouldnt drink? Or, is alcoholism not a concern if one has dementia b/c they can't remember that they are an alcoholic? Are you still an alcoholic if you have dementia? And then, there is always the dementia that alcohol has caused.

Just wondering...

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Comment by DwightMayo on July 23, 2010 at 6:37pm: I would hazard to guess that a lot of the residents there enjoy the ability to make their little name tags and realize that they look more cutesy than adult even when they are making them and even know which ones are doing their best and which ones are just making them for entertainment or to feel like they are being a part of.
In an assisted living environment there are probably the same percentage as in the outside world who can enjoy a beer or a glass of wine with no problem. Why should they be restricted from having one when they feel like?
Should all the residents there suffer restrictions on enjoying a snack because one person tends to overeat? This is an "assisted living home " from what you say and those are supposed to be set up where people can still have more control over their daily activities than a lot of nursing homes have always had. Some people not being able to resist eating too much or the chance of someone overindulging doesnt seem like a good reason to take freedom away from the majority to me.
If someone has dementia so bad that they cant get along in an assisted living environment then maybe the problem is the family needs to find them another place to live instead of trying to control over the lives of others living there,