Are Chicago nursing homes actually grouping residents by ethnicity? I shudder to think of what could happen if segregation in nursing homes mimics segregation in prisons. We might have different ethnicities forming gangs on the “inside.” From the AP wire at ABCnews:
Mid America Convalescent Center is one of a growing number of Chicago-area nursing homes that assemble residents by ethnicity. Asians live on one floor, Hispanics are on another.
Each group has its own traditional food, activities and a staff that speaks its language. Within a few miles are other facilities doing the same for Poles, Russians, Indians and Koreans.
There have long been nursing homes that cater to certain nationalities and religions, or become popular with different ethnic groups. But in Chicago, with the third largest number of foreign-born residents in the United States, that sort of specialization is becoming increasingly common and formalized, said Kevin Kavanaugh, spokesman for the Illinois Council on Long Term Care.
At first this sounds kind of bad. Segregation is something you must always remain vigilant against. But…when you are that old you may want to revert to what you are most familiar with. I can’t fault that logic. All the different groups have their own customs and quirks.
Specialized ethnic care can be helpful, advocates argue. Nursing homes must be aware, for example, of elderly Jewish residents for whom a trip to the shower may trigger memories of the Holocaust.
They also must be aware of customs and rituals, said Rosemary Gemperle, executive director of the Coalition of Limited English Speaking Elderly, an organization of community-based ethnic agencies in Chicago.
“Indian people, Hindus, won’t eat before they are bathed,” Gemperle said, offering an example. “They will starve first.”
Some Koreans won’t drink cold water, believing it can cause disease. A nursing home that doesn’t understand that can create a life-threatening situation if residents refuse to take medications because they are given only cold water, said Susan Duda Gardiner, director of clinical services with the Illinois Council on Long Term Care.
these are people at the end of life. often, they were never very assimilated in the first place. i think the cost vs. benefit weights toward comfort in this case, rather than social opposition to segregation. that being said, i am disturbed by the ‘bangladeshi only‘ public housing for eldery they had in the UK. but again, old people are less concering because they are leaving society, not shaping it.
They should talk to South Asian grad students. They eat without bathing all the time 🙂
Hey! No need to get personal. 🙂
As an ombudsman, I say what ever the residents want……..If they are happy with their own race, living with their own race, then fine.