“Best Little Smoke Shop
in Eugene — North of Beltline!”
Locally made glass-blown pipes
Papers, rolls & wraps
Quality vape selection
2664 River Rd., Suite B
Eugene, OR
(Off River Rd. behind Don Juan’s Restaurant)
SantaClaraSmokeShop.com
541-654-5772
Our family was surprised that, de-
spite the steep cost of care for our elderly
mom in several Oregon facilities over the
years, we still had to work hands-on to get
her basic needs met.
State law is to blame, with regulations
that protect those profiting from the fail-
ing health of people more than the people
themselves. Does anyone really believe
two caregivers can manage 40 residents on
meds and in diapers? Oregon does!
And many states mandate that nurses
administer meds. In Oregon, an 18-year-old
worker with no medical background can
give drugs in assisted living facilities — in-
cluding insulin and barbiturates.
The Long-Term Care Bill of Rights as-
sures residents are safe to complain without
fear of retaliation, but one learns it is wiser
to keep quiet. Your only recourse is the om-
budsman, who in reality is more a mediator
than an advocate.
As for substantiated complaints: We
know of injury-by-neglect cases that should
have been substantiated but were not. One
case was closed before all the parties were
even interviewed. Does DHS give facilities
a pass because investigators themselves are
overworked or undertrained?
We all face the possibility of life in a
long-term care facility — one accident can
put you there. So please question your legis-
lators, particularly about Oregon’s caregiv-
er-to-resident ratios.
It is tragic that many of the hardy
old folks who survived the Depression
and WWII may die of neglect in Oregon’s
long-term care facilities.
Cheryl P. Morris
Eugene
EMPTY NESTS
The Eugene Weekly’s recent Outdoors
Issue described Oregon as a “birding para-
dise.” It’s a claim that’s hard to argue with.
From Fern Ridge here in Eugene to
Yaquina Head on the coast to any of the
state’s many National Wildlife refuges,
there is a feeling of abundance. Even a
short walk through these spaces brings an
irrepressible smile to my face. An encoun-
ter with an interesting bird can feel like a
gift that one has received.
But we should not be so myopic as to
forget that such spaces are mere remnants of
what has been and continues to be destroyed.
Habitat continues to be systematically elimi-
nated and life itself is being extinguished.
Our #GoodLifeGoal:
consolidate our lives
Thank You
for practicing & promoting
mental wellness during
MIND YOUR MIND MONTH
Join us in making mental
wellness a priority by
minding your mind all
year round!
www.mindyourmindproject.org
because mental wellness matters
Now that we’re a family, it’s important
our fi nances are also under one roof.
SELCO makes it possible with a full range
of services – from everyday banking
and loans to insurance and investing.
It’s our trusted fi nancial home.
selco.org • 800-445-4483 • Branches throughout Eugene and Springfi eld
Banking | Mortgages | Insurance | Investments | Business Lending
Membership requirements apply. See SELCO for details. NMLS#402847
eugeneweekly.com • May 25, 2017
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