Talkto thestaffmembersand youwillhearaboutthe
dailyskirmishes.Awomancallsforhelptothebathroom
“everyfiveminutes.”Sotheyputheronasetschedule,
taking her to the bathroom once every couple hours,
when it fits into their rounds. But she doesn’t go
according to schedule, instead wetting her bed ten
minutesafterabathroomtrip.Sonowtheyputherina
diaper. Another residentrefuses to use hiswalker and
takesunauthorized,unaccompaniedwalks.Athirdsneaks
cigarettes and alcohol.
FoodistheHundredYears’War.Awomanwithsevere
Parkinson’s disease keeps violating her pureed diet
restriction,stealingfoodfromotherresidentsthatcould
cause her to choke. A man with Alzheimer’s disease
hoards snacks in his room, violating house rules. A
diabetic is found eating clandestine sugar cookies and
pudding,knockinghisblood sugarlevelsoffhistarget.
Who knew you could rebel just by eating a cookie?
Inthehorribleplaces,thebattleforcontrolescalatesuntil
you get tied down or locked into your Geri-chair or
chemically subdued with psychotropic medications. In
thenice ones, a staff member cracks a joke,wags an
affectionatefinger,andtakesyourbrowniestashaway.In
almostnonedoesanyonesitdownwithyouandtry to
figureoutwhatlivingalifereallymeanstoyouunderthe
circumstances,let alone helpyoumake a homewhere
that life becomes possible.
Thisistheconsequenceofasocietythatfacesthefinal
phaseofthehumanlifecyclebytryingnottothinkabout
it.Weendupwithinstitutionsthataddressanynumberof
societalgoals—fromfreeinguphospitalbeds totaking