Sex and the Germans, Part 3; The Horny Professor

Part 3 of the efforts of the K-Landnews Random Research Team may sound as salacious as the vampire fan fiction turned overrated novel, yes, the one with all the shades of grey.  Nothing could be further from it.

The professor did, indeed, profess his strong desire for female companionship, however, in an altogether different context.

He uttered "I really need a woman now" when the nurse first stopped by in the early hours of the morning. Then he promptly forgot about it.  Although the staff could not be certain of this and thus mentioned the episode during the shift change briefing at the old folks home.

Should we make a call to get the requested company? the head nurse asked.

As funny as it may sound, the care of old people seems to have progressed beyond the simple routine of "keep them clean, make sure they take their meds and verify the TV is working".

Smokers are allowed to have a cigarette. If friends or family provide the cigs, and if the resident can go or roll out onto the porch -- the building is strictly non-smoking inside.

Though, again, the nature of the condition (Alzheimer's, dementia, the toll of old age) also means that many a smoker simply forgets that he or she has been smoking.

But if they remember for long enough, they do get their smoke break.

And those who used to drink, they do get a beer or a glass of wine with their evening meal.

And the more carnal desires as expressed by the professor that morning? While there is, on occasion, romance in the old folks home, that's not what we are talking about.

We do provide for these desires on occasion, explains the head nurse. If we conclude that the patient, or resident, benefits from it, we'll make a call to a provider of such services. We are there to make the last years or months of a person comfortable, pleasant, we are not in the business of dictating how people who are losing their hold on reality need to feel. Of course, some institutions are more open to folks like the professor.

If you need to know, just in case you are planning ahead: private, non-religious facilities are your best bet for comprehensive care. In Germany, that is. We do not know how the professors fare in a care facility in the U.S. -- do you know?