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SECTION 2 - PAGE 4- PLAINDEALER - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29,1M4 Nursing homes are not a 'necessary evil* Parts °Pen for men» women tfy Carl RiMet Jr. » \ Q.-"My doctor told me that nursing homes are a necessary evil. Can it be true that they are evil? I'm scared I'll end up in a nursing home."--Benjamin B. • A.-The doctor probably used the word loosely, as a form of speech. While some nursing homes may not be the happiest of places to live out the years, I don't think they can t»e described accurately as evil, however, the more I see of nursing homes (and I have Visited many as a friend, as a son, and as a reporter) the more I am convinced there is present 4 degree of unfeelingness in many nursing homes. The need to make a profit is not happily joined with the need for the special care necessary for the tnental well-being of the aged. ; It has been shown that the managements of some nursing homes are touched with greed. For example, the front offices of inany do not disburse allowances to patients each pionth in any amount, let alone the total of $27.50 required to be paid to a patient each month under government rules. Many patients whose pensions and government • checks are paid direct to nursing homes, never see a dollar of cash with which to buy a small personal thing such as a candy bar or a coke, or a birthday card for a grandchild. that I am no longer a good driver, but I drove slow and not m* heavy traffic or during rush hours. I am 80 and lots of people of 80 drive. Do you think that was vefy nice of her?" - Seth J. . ,,A.-If Seth drives poorly, or erratfcplly, lye shouldn't drive at all. His daughter did right. She must have been wbrtied about him and worried, tbo, that he might hurt someone in an ac- cktetit. Now that his license has Men taken away because she imported his declining ability to drive, she may be more than eager to become his frequent chauffeur-as often as she can find the time. That would be proof of her desire to help her grounded 80-year-old father. Q.-"I was asked to call a person named Pat Jones. The message didn't say whether it was a man or a woman. When I called it was a woman. Why can't people say 'Miss' or 'Mrs.' or 'Ms', if it's a woman and the name is also a man's name?"-- Genevieve Van G. A.-The world is changing and we elders will have to accept it. It would seem only fair to let it be known that a caller with the name of "Pat" is a man or woman. I cannot fathom the reason why, but unisex is in. Men aren't so much that way, but some women, those in pants, apparently don't want the public to know they are eligible to wear skirts. Isn't it strange that while it's permissible, and indeed a pleasing aspect, for a woman to wear pants, a man might get arrested for masquerading as a woman if-he went out in a skirt? . Send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Mr. Riblet at Box 40757, Tucson, AZ 85717 if you have questions that you think will be interesting to other readers of this column. No identities are revealed. in college fall production IfcfcHenry County ^College Theatre is looking for actors and technical help for the 1984-85 season. Five men and four women are needed for the first production, Moliere's "The Doctor in Spite of Himself," directed by Dr. Debra Woodard. the pftay follows the antics of a woodcutter who masquerades as a doctor, creating comic mix- ups and entanglements. Persons interested in acting in the show or working on scenery or costumes should attend auditions on Wednesday, Sept. 5, beginning at 7 p.m., or Thur­ sday, Sept. 6 at 3:30 p.m. The auditions will be held in MCC's Black Box Theatre, located in Room 104 of the college's Ap­ plied Science Building. Performances of "The Doctor in Spite of Himself" are scheduled for Oct. 18,19, 20, 21, 25, 26 and 27. For further information contact Debra Woodard at 455- 3700, ext. 330. Last week to save at our big August furniture Sale. Your last chance to save on sofas, recliners, area rugs, accent tables, wall units, mattress sets, and more. A non-governmental in- 1 spection system of nursing homes everywhere may be what is needed. City, county and state inspections are not broad enough. The system would send committees of alert, elderly people in their own cars to locations around the city to inspect nursing homes and in­ terview patients - from the perspective of elders, not government,- and report their findings in a no-nonsense manner. Sadly, though, it has been found that patients in nursing homes are sometimes afraid to tell on those who abuse them. There are, of course, some reasonably good nursing homes. But how to select them. The answer may be found at the Institute of Gerontology at the University of Michigan, telephone (313) 764-2493, at 520 East Liberty, Ann Arbor, Mich., 48109. The institute will send Benjamin, and anybody else, a book, "How to Choose a Nursing Home," for $1. Is there anybody out there with an idea that may help to solve the problem of inspecting nursing homes from the viewpoint of the elderly, and what is more important, making their recommendations stick? - *JP An Additional 10% OFF S Posturepedic® Sterling Topaz, Opal or Ruby sets. Offer good Sunday, August 26th through Saturday, September 1 st, 1984. Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. Not applicable to prior purchases No special, phone or catalog orders. Good only at your local JCPenney store. Cash value 1 /20 of one cent JCPeney Company, Inc. N.Y., N.Y. 10019 JCPenney coupon M iv f \v^ V . / \H i f / f * 50% off PosturepedicfSterling Sapphire. Sale 134.95 Reg. 269.95 ea. Twin mattress or foundation. Fufl mattress or foundation. Reg. 329.95, Sale 164.95 Queen set Reg.-799.95, Sale 399.95 King set. Reg. 1119.95, Sale 559.95 33% to 50% off all our Sealy Starlight Series too. Plus other Posturepedic® sets. $50 to $200 off Solid cherry wall units you put together to create a built-in look. * Reg. Sale 2 door unit $430 $330 Drop-lid unit... $490 $390 China/curio-- $579 $479 By special order. Open unit $300 $250 Entertainment center... $899 $699 Comer unit $250 $200 Q.-"I read your answer to the letter about 'A Castle On the River Nile,' the song that was popular 60 yearsago. Thank you for the words. Could you find me the words to 'My Little Georgia Rose' that was a minstrel song way back when?"-Geraldine H. A.--There is an oldtime minstrel singer at the Golden Age club here who remembered a bit of "Little Georgia Rose", and sang it for me. It's really not a very stirring song. Kindo^ dead. If I took the precious space to print the words hefg, Geraldine's newspaper would get sore at me, and rightfully so. She may be able to get the words by writing G. Schirmer, Inc., song and music publishers at 866 Third Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10022. Q.-"I would like to go to the college here to take a course in anything they would let me- study. I am 78. Is that too old?" Miriam M. A - Miriam can discuss it with somebody in the college's ad­ mission office. They may be better pleased to take her if she had a more definite idea of w&t' she wanted to study. Nobody is too old to study if the desire to learn is there, but college is not just a place to pass the time away. 7.. • Q.-"My daughter reported me to the autapticense bureau and they tow my license away. Now I permitted to drive. I'll admit ' $17Q I f v/ your choice: ft*. $259 ea. Graceful 18th Century style solid cherry accent tables. Choose oval cocktail or special order tea table. *1 o to *350 off Sale 449.99 Reg. 599.99. Contemporary style handle- operated swivel/ rocker/ recliner with Herculon® olefin velvet cover. Sale 399.99 Reg. 499.99. Transitional style handle- operated swivel/rocker/ recliner covered in Herculon® Reg. $749. Leather Tyme" recliner with leather and perfect match vinyl cover. Sdrry, mattress and furniture not available outside normal delivery area. Small charge for delivery Phone for details. ar iL fi * $350 off 2-piece sectional. „ Mud , Sale $949 Reg. $1299. This sleek 2-pa sectional sleep sofa by Bassett® is softened with lots of plump pillows. It seats 6 and sleeps 2 on a queen size polyurethane mattress. Upholstered in richly textured Herculon® velvet protected with Scotchgard®. $150 to $600 off Sale $999 Reg. $1599.85" Leather Tyme" sofa with leather covered back, matched vinyl on other surfaces. Sale $449 Reg. $599. 89" sofa with rayon/polyester/ print cover. Sale $599 Reg. $799. 89" flared arm sofa with Teflon® protected acrylic velvet. $150 to $200 off Sale $499 Reg. $699. 86V2" camelback sofa with Teflon® protected cotton chintz* cover. Sale $599 Reg. $749. 86" transitional style sofa with oak trim, polyester velvet* cover. Sale $599 Reg. $749. 86" Early American style sofa with exposed pine frame, olefin/ cotton/chenille* cover. 30% to 50% off Our splendid collection of area rugs in styles for every floor plan. In jewel-tone colors from bright to pale. Choose Oriental looks, Berbers, floral, braided rugs, more. And save. VISA' J Cr>t>o»rir l»c • Available aa shown, or choose from a large selection of special order fabrics except Leather Tyme". Coordinating pieces available at comparable savings. Sale prices effective thru Saturday, September 1 st. Brickyard, Ford City, Fox Valley Center, GOIf MM|, Joliet Mail. Lakehurst, Lincoln Mall, North Riverside Park, Orland Square, Southteke Mail, Spring MIM Mall, Woodfield, Yorktown