The province of Ontario, Canada has outlawed
smoking in
most
indoor places via the Smoke Free Ontario act. This
means that
seniors living in
long term care institutions
are no longer allowed to smoke in their
rooms or indoors.
Many long term care
facilities operators say that they
can't afford to construct indoor smoking rooms or renovate
existing indoor smoking rooms to comply with the new laws.
Residents who are physically independent can smoke outside
but must do so at a distance of 9 meters away from the
building. However, when the cold winter weather returns,
this may not be possible for even these mobile seniors. For
seniors that are not mobile enough to bring themselves
outside, there is little that can be done. Unfortunately,
quitting smoking is not easy especially for seniors who may
have been smoking for a good portion of their lives. Some
seniors will have to consider the possibility of moving to
other facilities that can provide indoor smoking rooms that
have been modified to comply with the new law.
Even if accommodations were available in facilities that
meet the new law initiatives, the
health impact on these
seniors forced to move would be detrimental. For seniors
living in long care institutions, these facilities are
considered home for many years until they pass on.
Many long-term facilities are working diligently to come up
with a solution to this problem. Queen's Park will support
programs that aid in smoking cessation for the seniors
affected. The Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and
Seniors and The Center for Addiction and Mental Health, in
conjunction with the Ministry of Health are looking at ways
to help seniors facilities cope with the new changes and
lessen the impact on the residents by researching other
interests that residents can be partake in to easy the
transition from smoking to non-smoking. The effects of
nicotine withdrawal can be serious and will affect many
residents. Furthermore, it will be up to the nurses of
these institutions to enforce the new law.
It has been suggested that the government should redirect
some of the tobacco tax revenues to help nursing homes pay
for the necessary renovations.
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