Smoking at home: MI Nursing Homes

By Jonathan Last updated Oct 21, 2017

Nursing Homes�Update

This was my first appeal to local media for help. I contacted all the local media about this crisis. They all knew it was wrong, but would do nothing to help our elderly smokers. It was 8 below zero when I sent this email.

————– Forwarded Message: ————–
From: behindbars@comcast.net
To: news@sbt247.com

Subject: Sick and elderly Americans forced into sub zero temperatures
Date: Sun, 04 Feb 2007 18:10:42 +0000

Today elderly smokers all over this county and many others are being forced outside in sub zero temperatures because they are smokers.

These nursing home patients have lost the right to smoke in their OWN homes and now must be wheeled, carted, or given a helping hand to face the brutal cold. These are Americans who have no voice. These are the forgotten ones. Will you help me to bring attention to their plight?

Do we not owe them better treatment? I would think that no sane person would find this acceptable. Please help those who have no family to defend them and lets end this madness.

Thank you for any help offered,
James Jorgensen
Niles, Michigan

I sent this email after all the local media outlets refused to due their duty.

————– Forwarded Message: ————–
From: behindbars@comcast.net
To: wsbtnews@wsbt.com

Subject: St. Joe County nursing home crisis
Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2007 11:40:29 +0000

I have left several messages on your news tip hotline regarding a crisis going on all over St. Joe County’s nursing homes. I’m sure you are aware of the smoking ban in St Joe County.

This law has put many of our seniors in an impossible situation. As a journalist, you have a duty to inform the public as to this current situation. It would seem obvious that either you have become a political arm of the local politicians, or you are blind to what real new is.

Senior citizens being forced outdoors by law in unsafe conditions certainly meets the criteria needed to become news worthy. What is your excuse? If one of these seniors is harmed, this email will find its way to the victims attorney.

You have been warned, and we can assure you this issue will not go away. We have been in contact with a few Indiana State officials who are supposed to protect the elderly and they claim they are opening an investigation. We are also receiving a great deal of support from l ocal VFW halls. We have also been in contact with other local media outlets and a few seem to be actually looking into this situation.

The lid is coming off. We strongly encourage you to do an honest investigation into this crisis or it would seem inevitable that eventually you will have to answer for your silence. Newspaper adds, fliers, and billboards are all being discussed. How your station is presented to the public is up to you.

We strongly suggest that you put personal politics aside and for once……..do the right thing. The people have the right to know. We know we have grasped a Hornets nest. We plan on shaking it until the Hornets are awakened……� it would appear they are starting to swarm. Your silence thus far has been documented. All we ask is that you give our senior citizens some unbiased coverage.

Originally written By James Jorgensen