ELDER CARE
A note of caution about assisted-living facilities
Hearing about the passage of the assisted-living bill leaves me with a plethora of mixed emotions. As a geriatric social worker who has worked with elders and their families for the past 29 years, I have experienced the angst many families feel when they have to move their loved one into a nursing home. Assisted living was created to provide a place for elders who were in need of supervision and support, and a way to help prolong nursing home placement in a more “homelike” environment. While there are many good assisted-living communities, it is important to recognize another side to this issue.
The assisted-living industry has grown tremendously and has become more competitive, while continuing to raise fees. Many elders can no longer afford assisted-living care (especially those with dementia care). With the passing of this bill, I am concerned that more elders will be squeezed out of this market, as it’s likely that assisted-living centers will raise their fees even more.
It will be imperative that our state carefully regulate these communities and that families advocate for their elder family members and hold assisted-living communities accountable for making sure they provide the proper staffing and training to take care of the more frail elders residing in their communities. I hope that assisted-living communities will not just become “fancy nursing homes.” With the passing of this bill, the jury is still out.
Nancy Kriseman, Atlanta
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Pursuit of drug users wastes police resources
Speaking as a retired detective, I don’t care whether drug courts are effective. My problem is that either way, you will have my profession wasting precious police time chasing the Charlie Sheens and Willie Nelsons of Georgia. As the Thin Blue Line gets thinner, and pedophiles are thick in the chat rooms trying to meet teens in real life, chasing drug users is simply insane.
Who still believes that the government can fix stupid? Families should look after loved ones with a drug issue.
Howard Wooldridge, Albany
AIRLINE SAFETY
Parents should prepare children for pat-downs
America, we need to have a serious talk about whether children can be patted down when boarding a commercial aircraft. You know the airline rules and safeguards, and it is up to parents to explain the process to children before they arrive at the airport and board that plane.
I hope the American public still realizes there are people out there who would love to blow American aircraft out of the sky. Get real. Why do you think Israel has the safest airlines and airports? They are consistent, and do not waiver from protecting human life. As for me, I do not want to be blown out of the sky because someone’s kid has a temper implosion. Raymond Brown, Marietta
