Mailbox sticker creep!
 

Apparently there is someone living in Alhambra who feels it is his or her duty to scrape off any stickers that have been placed on individual's mailboxes. My mother-in-law has dementia. We have repeatedly placed a smiley face sticker on her mail box so that she can locate her own mail. It is one of the few things that she can do to feel a little independent. What kind of meanness is this to remove a sticker that helps someone, not to mention that the stickers are personal property and nobody has a right to deface them? I would ask that, if you are that individual or you know who might be doing this, that it be pointed out that hopefully they will never know what it is like to need this kind of assistance, and if they do, that they don't run into mean-spirited individuals who would deprive them of same. Thank you for reading.

Probably someone from the Post Office.
Here is another thread that may help:
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ilboxes-39346/

No, I checked with the post office and also with Community Standards. Neither are doing it.

i happen to think that all of the stickers look very trashy, not so different from the advertisements on telephone poles or graffitti spray painted on subway cars or highway overpasses. scrape them all off and keep the postal stations clean!

Perhaps if you place a note on the box asking that the sticker not be removed...
Maybe someone thinks they are helping by scraping it off for you? I would not think that anyone was intentionally trying to be mean-spirited. At least I hope not. My Mother also had dementia from age 92 until she assed away at 95. It is difficult at best and to try to give them some independence is not always an easy thing. Bless you for having her best interests at heart.

Travelguy, did you read the OP,s reason for having the sticker present? I hope you never have to deal with someone with dementia or Alzheimer's. You do what is necessary to give them some dignity and fulfillment. Sometimes there are extenuating circumstances and we need to be cognizant of that. The sticker was placed there as a means of help and recognition. Though it may not be pretty I hope you can understand it's value.

QUOTE=hotrodgirl;561106]Travelguy, did you read the OP,s reason for having the sticker present? I hope you never have to deal with someone with dementia or Alzheimer's. You do what is necessary to give them some dignity and fulfillment. Sometimes there are extenuating circumstances and we need to be cognizant of that. The sticker was placed there as a means of help and recognition. Though it may not be pretty I hope you can understand it's value.[/QUOTE]

:agree:

I lost my dad to Alzheimers so I know how important it is to maintain dignity and independence as long as possible. Besides, with all of the beauty that is The Villages, does having some stickers on mailboxes really make that much difference. Lighten up!

Find another way
 

My dad had dementia and Alzheimer's disease and it is very difficult to watch someone have this. My question is why would anyone let their loved one go to the mail boxes themselves to get the mail with this disease?? If you go with them to get the mail you wouldn't have to place a sticker on the mailbox for them to identify it you could just point out which box is theirs. In my opinion, the stickers look very trailer park and should be removed. let's keep The Villages classy.

The folks that live in the trailer parks, probably appreciate your comment.

:BigApplause:

I don't necessarily think class has anything to do with where one lives. But to get back to the original topic of the reason the OP placed the sticker... He or she may have been able to see where their parent was, or may even have been with them. The parents' independence may simply being able to recognize and open the mailbox. I would hope you might have that type of support should you be afflicted with this difficult and frustrating disease.

trailer or no trailer
 

You know....you are right. Our little town in Upstate NY was a fairly deprived area. The mobile home parks there were extremely run down and they were the worst of the worst. However, here in Florida things are much different. My relatives live in a trailer/mobile home here in Florida and it is beautiful!! My reference was what I was remembering from where I use to live. I also lived in a trailer for 7 years with a little baby by myself. It is what it is......

our note in the mailbox said stickers removed by post office do not replace

Very odd, I just came back from the Alhambra mailboxes and I saw stickers on a lot of the boxes. The people who owned our house prior to us put a sticker on our box, it was still there this evening. Did you check with the mail person (not the post office) at the Alhambra location?

Comparing these tiny stickers to graffiti or saying that they make the postal stations look trashy is just silly. I’d be willing to bet that most of the folks that live here can’t even see them from more than ten feet away. And those are the ones with good eyesight. If it helps folks (your neighbors) find their mailboxes, then what's the problem? There are 30-some square miles of beauty in The Villages. Spend more time looking at the that.

This is presented a little better than it was the first time.
A little classier....................

Stickers
 

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Actually...
 

With dementia, it is often much easier for someone to recognize a picture that they picked out than 3 meaningless numbers (as is the case with my mother-in-law). And to respond to the issue of why is she going to the mailbox if she has dementia.... She is going to the mailbox to look for mail. She is happy if she finds a coupon or an advertisement with her name on it. She gets there by driving her golf cart around the block. It is her only independent outing and it is important to her. She has dementia, but she isn't dead or blind, and there are stages of dementia. Please don't judge until you've walked a mile....which I hope you never have to.

Been There Before
 

....[

Agree with you shrink and I sincerely doubt that every Villager at some postal center feels a need to put stickers on their boxes. Many also seem to use them to find their box quickly without having to look at the numbers. I often find mine by looking at the positioning of the stickers.

Dignity is also very important for those with dementia. See nothing wrong with a lady using her golf cart to go a few blocks. I do wish the traffic in the Villages' neighborhoods would slow down so that people with some kind of disabilities could retain some of their independence.

I put a smiley face on my box - but the four people next to me also put a smiley face on theirs - i also thought if we remove all the numbers and replace with pictures like Disneyland parking lot maybe it would be easier but the post office would not go along with my suggestion

I do not spend much time there,maybe 30 seconds. People can put whatever stickers on their P.O. box,however no porn please.

I have Mickey Mouse on mine! What is the big deal? Gives the mailboxes personality.

This will probably be removed!

Some people have way too much time on their hands. The lady needs a sticker on her mailbox. Just lighten up. Why in the world would you give a rat's patoot if someone else put a marker on a mailbox?

Oh, thank you!
 

Well said!!

I would bet that when an inspector from the post office shows up to look at their property, all the stickers will be removed.

The thing to remember is the stickers are not allowed by the USPostal Service and can be removed. At this point, it doesn't matter who removed them, they will always be subject to removal no matter how much some feel they are useful. What might be considered is another way for someone to recognize their box. Maybe a little map for those who need visual clues...and/or....maybe a key fob with the large numbers of the box on it. Complaining may help us vent, but it doesn't necessarily solve a problem some may have, and it will come up again and again until the USPS allows stickers on their property.

well said

My Dad has dimentia and Alz. ...Early stages....He comes and goes as he wants and we can't stop him and I am not sure we would if we could...He is determined to keep his independance as long as he can and I don't want to take that from him...So if a little sticker would help him I would do it for him...I would put A large smiley face on his cart if that would help...I would buy hime smiley face shirts and pants if it kept him happy...Because I love him and he is my father !

What does this have to do with my post about the "trailer park" comment?

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I agree in our area it is getting to look terrible.