A shame. A national disgrace.

My Alzheimer-riddled friend Ron has been kicked out of his nursing home. For being too ‘unmanageable.’ Just as well that he’s left. It was a very bad nursing home. In that the residents of the memory care unit are warehoused.  They aren’t treated like real human beings. Seldom do they get one-on-one stimulation. Mentally. Physically. Any which way.  We are still living in the Dark Ages when it comes to treating dementia. Which happens to be a mental illness.  Yes, Ron is mentally ill. And there’s no place for him to go. Other than back home. With his daughter Julie and son-in-law Rick. They had Ron in their home for 5 years. Until several months ago. When he went into assisted living and nursing home care. At a cost of up to $10,600 a month. For that, Ron got terribly insufficient care. Little wonder that he was unmanageable. It was more a case of him not being properly managed.  When it comes to management, some nursing homes are adept at managing their profits. Better than managing proper and reasonable care. It’s a shame. A national disgrace. –Jim Broede