Many Reservations For Thorupgaarden Nursing Home!
20 Apr 2003
Some columns strike a particular note with readers. The one I wrote about Copenhagen’s Thorupgaarden nursing home, struck high C. Every Saturday night pornographic videos are shown on the home’s internal channel. If residents remain depressed after this therapy they can request that a prostitute be allowed to visit. The Danish medical community decided this treatment was superior to Prozac. I’ve received a response from readers, second only to the column on the fractured male organ.
From Lethbridge a reader writes, "Go Danes go! Be prepared for the immigration of Canadian seniors. Our young people believe that our brain is dead when we our hair turns white. I may even become a Danish Lady-of- the-Night."
A woman associated with the Alzheimer association writes, "the prissyness of nursing homes bothers me. I’ve often heard , ‘we found Mrs. Smith in bed with Mr. Jones, how terrible!’ The staff never seemed to realize that the person did not know it was not her bed. I became so bored with this obsession that I suggested putting them all to bed with someone else. They thought I had taken leave of my senses. Some units thought that hugging a bear was OK but not holding hands."
From Saskatoon, "Three cheers for your column. Finally some public recognition that seniors still enjoy sex and a glass of wine. Seniors should speak out more on what they want. If porno answers a need, let’s make it law. The government is good at making laws."
A man from Toronto says, "Three cheers for a great down-to-earth column that enlightened and brightened my day."
A Edmonton woman remarks, "I discovered the horrors that face the elderly when I produced an orientation video for a senior home. They are such sterile places. One of the greatest needs humans have is the need for touch and physical intimacy. It seems strange that the staff enjoy it but deny it to seniors. Maybe they see seniors as something akin to their parents. One university survey showed that 80 percent of students thought their parents didn’t have sex! Talk about child denial!
A man from Halifax says, "This article is full of common sense, humour and sound medical advice. It’s atrocious how we treat seniors. Thanks for having the courage to write it."
A man from Winnipeg writes, "This article challenges our mindless moral and political correctors. Access to sex and alcohol in our senior years recognizes the right of choice which should not stop at the doors of institutions. A wee tipple and a bit of sex would cut down on the mandatory nightly sleeping pill which whacks patients into docile land. Kudos to you."
Some women chided me for being sexist. They asked, "What about us gals? I’d like to know if Thorupgaarden offers women the same type of sexual gratification?"
From Charlottetown, "Nursing home staff believe it is their fiduciary responsibility to protect the moral standards of seniors. I say why? Lets us set our own standards"
I extend my congratulations to a 78 year old who claims he’s having sex three times a day with the help of Viagra. He’s all for Thorupgaarden and wants to start selling shares in another one!"
Many said , "sign me up." And one writer who knows me wrote, "Since you’re 10 years older than me you’ll arrive at Thorupgaarden earlier. Let us all know how you like it. That is, if you are still capable of doing so!"
But it wasn’t all kudos. One person wrote, " How sad that Gifford-Jones would rather die with a Lady-of-the-Night than fall off a rocking chair. Has he no moral values?"
Others said I was promoting child pornography, writing moral garbage and should end my days reading Psalm 23. And how could anyone consult me as their doctor?"
My mail is always interesting reading, how people interpret my remarks. Certainly I believe sex and a tipple of a favourite alcoholic drink is a good prescription for the elderly.
But some people always fail to realize I also enjoy having a little fun. Medicine at times is a grim affair which now and then needs a lighter touch. Fortunately, 90 percent of readers could see I was in one on my humourous moods.
