Body Odor....Old People Odor...

[fortwildernessishome]

For those saying that the police should have been called for a welfare check how does that work? Its not like the store can force the gentleman to wait for the police to show up and its not a crime to smell bad. Unless he was exhibiting some type of behavior that made him seem unstable, I would think the police would not be rushing over. But, I don't know and since so many seem to offer this advice just wondering how it works.

Kelly

I am wondering too?? I found myself in this situation at CVS. In my case it was a man in his 20's. I had gotten in line behind the gentleman and the smell was so overpowering I hopped out of line and browsed the store for a bit, before I checked out. It NEVER would have crossed my mind to call the police about it! With so many police departments being short staffed and over worked, I truly can not imagine calling the police because someone is unkept with a super strong smell. The man was minding his own business, doing his shopping and not bothering anybody. I think the police would have laughed at me!!

 

[DizBelle]

As someone who works with the older population I know that smell but I also know how hard it can be for some of the elderly to shower/bathe on their own. The mobility and flexibility just isn't there anymore and something as simple as stepping into a bathtub can be an impossible maneuver for them. Lots of people have family or visiting caregivers to help but some don't.

You would think that if this fellow as mobile enough to do grocery shopping, he is mobile enough to take a shower/bath.

 

[SLP958]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3226611&highlight=wedding

 

[fortwildernessishome]

I'm wondering where the help was for this poor guy.

Again I have to ask, what would you do to help, if you found yourself in this situation?

Besides the obvious smell, the man wasn't in distress, he was just doing his shopping.

Like, I said in the post above. I have found myself in this situation. I am not sure what I could have done to help?

I am in CVS a couple times a week. It is on Main St. in our state capital. I have seen two other people at this same CVS, that did need help and I offered my assistance to them. One was standing outside, asking for money to get his prescription. I asked him if he needed help and he said his insurance had changed and he didn't have enough money for his new co-pay. I told him to come back inside with me and I would see if I could help him. I spoke to the pharmacist and found out he was 20.00 short. I gave the pharmacist 20.00 and asked them to take care of the man and left.

The second time, happened just two weeks ago. A man was checked out and went to pay and didn't have enough money. He asked the clerk to take some items back. The first thing to go was eye drops. I stepped up and asked how much he was short. The clerk said around 8.00. I said, put everything back in the bag and I pulled the money out of my wallet.

Now, with those cases, I saw a need and I was fortunate to be able to help and was happy to do so. However, with the man in CVS with the oder, I just don't know what I could have done.

 

[Burnedout]

I would have started a conversation with him. By doing so I could see if he was confused. We've had several old people wander off and be helped by strangers over the last 5 years or so. I'd rather be someone who helped than someone who mocked.

 

[fortwildernessishome]

I would have started a conversation with him. By doing so I could see if he was confused. We've had several old people wander off and be helped by strangers over the last 5 years or so. I'd rather be someone who helped than someone who mocked.

The man was doing his shopping, there was nothing in the OP, that said he appeared confused or appeared to need help. Usually with people who wander off, it is quite apparent that they are confused and need help.

I wouldn't assume just because someone smelled that they need help. I would need to see some sign of distress to offer help, whether the person smelled or not.

 

[DisneyChula]

You would think that if this fellow as mobile enough to do grocery shopping, he is mobile enough to take a shower/bath.

Unless there is a mental issue which would not affect his mobility at all.

 

[aaarcher86]

If the smell was following you around... maybe it was you?

 

[sunnyday123]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3226611&highlight=wedding

Holy Mother of God on a stick.


How very awful of you, OP to make fun of an ( <--correct usage ) elderly person. Especially after the above thread.

And as my daughter says, after I tell her after a soccer game about her funk, "Maybe it's your breath blowing back in your face?!"

 

[goofyintoronto]

If the smell was following you around... maybe it was you?

 

[pigletgirl]

For those saying that the police should have been called for a welfare check how does that work? Its not like the store can force the gentleman to wait for the police to show up and its not a crime to smell bad. Unless he was exhibiting some type of behavior that made him seem unstable, I would think the police would not be rushing over. But, I don't know and since so many seem to offer this advice just wondering how it works.

Kelly

It's nothing to do with the law. Basically they make sure the man is mentally stable enough to care for himself. Many times, when the elderly start not being able to care for their basic needs something isn't right. From what I've heard, a lot of times they're taken to the ER, get a basic work up and then an action plan is made from there.

The OP wouldn't dare go near him, so we don't know if he was ok or not.

 

[asta]

OP, I should have warned you that many on the DIS are very protective of people who have extremely obnoxious body odor. I posted about a bad odor situation with one person at my local gym and was taken to task by other posters. Same criticism of what a horrible person I am and that I don't care about other people. Just this week this horrible odor cleared out all of the equipment on one side of the gym. My health requires that I use the same type of equipment this gentleman does so my choice is to endure a rancid odor or just go home. I chose to go home.

I understand having empathy but I don't understand why all of these posters think it is OK to not take care of yourself to an extent that your odor becomes offensive. Do they also think it is OK for others to play music at extremely loud levels or to walk around offensively clothed? I think our society has accepted behavior and it is not OK to offensively violate those behaviors.

This is just more of the attitude of I can do whatever I want, whenever I want no matter how offensive and if you don't like it there is something wrong with you.

 

[Allison]

I don't have much to add, but I do find it more than a little humorous that OP was "sick" for over an hour after being close to this "old man", but was righteously defending a wedding where people used a bucket as a bathroom. Really? Standards, people, standards.

Yes, I find that interesting.

 

[pigletgirl]

Yes, I find that interesting.

Maybe she has selective smelling capabilities?

 

[DVCJones]

And!

Right!?

 

[Hannathy]

I would have started a conversation with him. By doing so I could see if he was confused. We've had several old people wander off and be helped by strangers over the last 5 years or so. I'd rather be someone who helped than someone who mocked.

If he appeared mentally competent enough to be shopping and going thru the check out, why would you think he had wandered off?

Second if he truly was a street person, many are very easily agitated and the best is to just give them a wide berth. It could be dangerous to go up and start talking to them.

I don't get the call the police? what would you like them to do? They can't force him to go to a shelter, they can't take him in for Psych, extremely hard to do now and especially without displaying any danger to himself or others. He is doing nothing wrong to have them arrest him. So what would you like them to do? not to mention pulling them off the street for crimes, etc.

I also think all the judging of the OP is no different than what you are accusing her of doing.

 

[sunnyday123]

If he appeared mentally competent enough to be shopping and going thru the check out, why would you think he had wandered off?

Second if he truly was a street person, many are very easily agitated and the best is to just give them a wide berth. It could be dangerous to go up and start talking to them.

I don't get the call the police? what would you like them to do? They can't force him to go to a shelter, they can't take him in for Psych, extremely hard to do now and especially without displaying any danger to himself or others. He is doing nothing wrong to have them arrest him. So what would you like them to do? not to mention pulling them off the street for crimes, etc.

I also think all the judging of the OP is no different than what you are accusing her of doing.

Someone who thinks it's ok to have 300+ people go to the bathroom in a bucket is automatically invalidated from judging someone else about odors. And it's an elderly man, for Gods sakes. It's called compassion, the world needs more of it.

 

[fortwildernessishome]

If he appeared mentally competent enough to be shopping and going thru the check out, why would you think he had wandered off?

Second if he truly was a street person, many are very easily agitated and the best is to just give them a wide berth. It could be dangerous to go up and start talking to them.

I don't get the call the police? what would you like them to do? They can't force him to go to a shelter, they can't take him in for Psych, extremely hard to do now and especially without displaying any danger to himself or others. He is doing nothing wrong to have them arrest him. So what would you like them to do? not to mention pulling them off the street for crimes, etc.

I also think all the judging of the OP is no different than what you are accusing her of doing.

Totally agree with everything you have written!

I also think the judging of the OP is a little over the top. While the OP's reaction seems a bit much and I am not sure why she wrote about it here, so many people are calling her rude etc. She never did anything rude to the man and I am sure he was none the wiser of his affect on her.

I know when I was going through chemo, smells REALLY bothered me. Even smells that were pleasant to most, could really affect me. Difficult smells could actually send me over the edge. Who knows, the OP said she went outside to be sick and still felt sick an hour later......maybe that is REALLY how she felt. Doesn't make her rude or mean. Someone suggested she should have found a bathroom if she felt ill instead of going outside. Maybe she didn't know where the restroom was located or didn't think she could make it. Maybe she knew the best cure for herself was fresh air. Who knows!!

 

[mttmilner]

I wasn't saying I would do anything to help. I was merely stating that I found it amusing that in one thread the OP is saying she is upset that America has turned away from helping people and in the next thread she is complaining about someones smell.

I think we are all jumping to conclusions about his mental / financial state. Chances are good we all would have given him a wide berth, maybe made a comment to our loved ones, and came home and not posted about it on a message board.

 

[goofyintoronto]

i wasn't saying i would do anything to help. I was merely stating that i found it amusing that in one thread the op is saying she is upset that america has turned away from helping people and in the next thread she is complaining about someones smell.

I think we are all jumping to conclusions about his mental / financial state. chances are good we all would have given him a wide berth, maybe made a comment to our loved ones, and came home and not posted about it on a message board.

Yes, exactly!!!!