We had quite a discussion about donuts in this thread, which even got a bit political. Mary Dan Eads recent post is about a donut protest. I don't believe in the right to free donuts either.

http://www.proteinpower.com/drmd_blog/?p=198

I totally agree! There are plenty of healthy things they can offer instead! Ridiculous.

Just a little donut story. I sit right by the vending machines, and yesterday I heard a mother yell at her son for getting Skittles in the morning. She said, "You said you were going to get donuts. I'm not going to let you eat Skittles in the morning." I wanted to badly to say, "Donuts are just as bad as Skittles." But considering my office is right by a criminal court, I didn't want to take my chances. lol It makes me crazy the way some people think.

If they want donuts, they can pay for them and eat them at home.

Hi Everyone,

No pun intended, but I just wanted to weigh in on this issue.

First, I was curious if anyone responding to this thread has ever worked in a
long-term care facility (nursing home, assisted living)? Has anyone worked directly with elderly who have nowhere else to live but these facilities?

During the last five years, I've worked full time at several nursing homes as a rehabilitation specialist. Getting out to buy a donut for yourself is difficult, if not impossible for many individuals who call these places home.

If you are in a wheelchair, or bedbound due to a stroke, or are a blilateral leg amputee, getting out of the facility to have a simple cup of coffee, much less a donut, or a healthy salad is extremely difficult. Many of these people can't just pick up a phone and say to their sons, daughters, or whoever "Can you bring me a sweet treat?" The large majority of these folks are abandoned or "forgotten" by family members who can't or won't take care of them anymore.

I am wondering if one of us was in this difficult situation, what our opinion might be if the facility we lived in provided us with a creature comfort like a donut? Would we refuse it because it was not healthy? By the same token, would we also demand that these nursing homes also turn down donations of beautiful day old flowers from the neighborhood florist because some residents get allergies from pollen?

I can't imagine telling an 80 year-old resident who was a nurse in the Pacific during WWII and still smokes like a freight train that eating a donut is going to increase her insulin resistance and possibly kill her. LOL, probably because I know exactly what "colorful metaphors" she might tell me!

I've seen first hand how contributions from the community like baked goods, flowers, church services, and entertainment dramatically improve the quality of life for residents living in these facilities.

Granted, a donut is a small thing to most of us. But access to the occaisional creature comfort is a big thing to many nursing home residents. When we take away their ability to even make these simple choices, even if they aren't exactly the healthiest, we also take away their dignity and self-respect.

That' is just my humble opinion regarding the whole donut issue.

--Kristen

I tend to agree Kristen. We have no right to impose our way of eating on anyone else, just as they don't have the right to impose theirs on us. As long as there are other choices available to the residents who don't want donuts, I don't see a problem...

As I have said on many threads in the past...and apparently I just can't let it rest...I am for individual choice. Just because I choose not to eat a donut does not mean I have any right to tell anyone else that they can't eat a donut.

I totally agree that people should be able to eat whatever they want. I just don't think a facility should be giving out junk food for free. Just my opinion.

Believe me, the last thing I am going to do is tell someone they can't have something. No way. I would never tell my grandparents they couldn't have "junk" food. My issue is just with the idea of giving it away for free.

When I took my niece to Take Your Child To Work Day, we were able to meet the mayor. And guess what they served to everyone? Krispy Kreme Donuts.

Again, just my personal opinion.

No one is telling them they can't eat donuts. What they are saying is "we're not going to be the ones to give them to you".

Should senior activity centers provide free booze and cigarettes as well?

I am all for individual choice too. It seem those that smoke can find someone to buy them cigarettes. Those who want donuts & sugary junk could also get someone to buy them, even if it is a staff member.