In a nursing home

Roger Small

Claremont
To the Editor,

There are roughly 15,500 nursing homes in the United States that collectively house, feed, and care for more than 1.4 million patients. Definitions are loose, but these facilities general serve older individuals who may not need hospitalization but cannot be cared for at home. Nursing homes are a big business. Nearly 70 percent are operated by for-profit companies.

As one of these 1.4 million patients, I see the business from the inside, from the consumer’s perspective. I am very pleased with the staff at my new home, and I recognize how hard they work often without the gratitude they are due. There are some angels here.

One challenge in the nursing home business is assessment of applicants. Nationally, about half of nursing home residents have some type of dementia to some degree of severity. Other disabilities are likewise common. This is an accepted part of the environment and it is remarkable how tolerant, adaptable, and respectful people can be in this regard.

As expected, exceptions occur. For example, there was a resident here who was violent. It’s a neurological condition for which most had compassion. Still, enough of us residents, staff, and even visitors had been punched by this man that extraordinary measures were required. This put a strain on precious resources and presented a prickly problem for the company that operates the facility.

Local police are not equipped for this. Though this was assault, Officers Barry and McDevitt were disrespectful and feckless. I was not privy to conversations between the police and the nursing home administration, but it must be an awkward relationship. I have sympathy for all concerned.

Conflict tests compassion. The administration here ultimately transferred the man to a more suitable facility, a fair compromise all around.

Still, the issues are bigger than this nursing home, this situation, or this police department. I merely intend to shed light on the challenges of caring for those no longer able to care for themselves. It’s a major story easily ignored.

Of course, these are temporary situations. The average stay in a nursing home is about 27 months. I’ve outlived my two-months-to-live prognosis by fourfold, so I’m on bonus time; and inclined to use it to voice my opinions.

Roger Small

Claremont

Editor’s note: Mr. Small is a retired Eagle Times columnist. A collection of his columns, “As I Recall,” is available at the Fiske Free Library.