Shouldn't the elderly be given the choice of being looked after in their own homes?

anneclent@btinternet.com

Not all of our elderly are 'shoved' into care homes. Some of us have no choice due to the nature of the health issues affecting our elderly family members. I'm speaking from the heart, and referring specifically to Altzheimer's Disease. Please do not make sweeping judgements - it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do,and I live with the guilt daily - and please be assured, the care has had to be funded by the enforced sale of my parents' home - not the tax payer. However if my parents had been living in a council house instead of trying to make their own way, the same care WOULD have been available, in the same care environment, but paid for by the state. In this country we are penalised for trying to provide for our old age, even when we have worked all our lives,paid tax and national insurance. You gotme going - sorry

kiwi

If the elderly person in question is of sound mind, and if it is feasable to care for them at home, that's fine.

It isn't always possible.

Sufi

Well, how much are you willing to increase your taxes to make this happen? How much of your paycheck will you give up?
In order to be attended by a doctor (house call), nurse (house call) person who bathes, etc. and a person who can administer CPR, it costs a lot. Then you need an accountant to manage their money. I think you haven't been in this situation. Honestly you should look deeper. No one wants to make this choice, but in my mother-in-law's case her daughter could no longer take care of her. she was exausted and getting sick herself. in my grandpa's case, he was pooping all over the carpets and the house smelled bad. eventually my grandma got too sick and old to clean it up every day.
If you suggest that workers come in to do all this, who will work for that price with the skills, how will we ensure theydon't abuse the elders and expecially are you as a taxpayer willing to pay for it. i mean i agree with you but you have not thought all the way through this.

joan k

Good for you for raising this issue. Yes if it's possible they should be looked after in their own homes. It would also save money, which is irrelevant really, but care homes rip local authorities off which is our money.

Anyanswer

Daughter of an:
85 year old Mother and Father whom live in their own home.
They manage although Father is disabled and Mother has dementia.
They have plenty of support.

tucksie

Not too long ago the elderly were always looked after by the family. It's a modern thing to bung them in a home so as to give that responsibility to a stranger. My family still looks after its own.

bye bye!

THere is a program called the Senior Companion program and it's federally funded and provides assistance so that elderly americans will not be displaced and can stay in their homes.

I couldn't agree more. However I do agree with accommodation which is supplied by local Government were the elderly have their own apartments and have a warden who is there to deal with their needs. These places do provide company for many people and it is great when activities are organised for them. I was very surprised last year when I heard that the home my friends mother was in stopped feeding her and left her to die. Somethings need to change.

Edmund

Another example of how shallow societies have become we should take care of our families where it is possible. With old folks homes only there where that support can not be provided or were the level of care requires professional support that can't be given in the home.

We are a small densley populated country house prices have gone crazy a return to such traditional makes more sense even in monetary terms so if thats all you love then there you go there is a reason for you aswell.

We live in a very wasteful selfish greed filled age people and its going to come back to haunt us one way or another.

katy

Elderly and young Disabled dont actually have any choice
you see they being denied their human rights rights on a daily basis
i refer to the horrors of the profit driven free care system

The Elderly fought a war to keep that kind of **** out of Britain

Mary N

This question poses a typical conflict of what "should" occur vs. what society is willing to fund.

In a perfect world, no one would even age!

So, in order for an elder to remain in their private housing, who will provide shopping and other chore services, like laundry? Who will shovel the walks? Who will change the storm windows? Who will transport them to the doctor's office? And, when the doctor orders medications for the elderly person, who will responsibly administer them?

There's no dispute about "whether" the elderly deserve an independent environment in which to live their final days.

What are you willing to do to achieve that aim?

Currently, suicide among the elderly is No. 1 among all demographic populations, so there's no logical argument that care for the elderly is sorely lacking.

The US society, through the elected governing bodies, has not established care for the elderly as a national priority.

editor@bcdisabilities.com

Yes Senior Corps (see website http://www.seniorcorps.gov/about/sc/index.asp) at first glance seems like a good idea:

"What is Senior Corps?
Americans over 55 have a lifetime of experience to share, and the desire to make a real difference in their world. Theyâ€™ve managed households, been business owners and nurses, farmers and salespeople, artists and executives. Now they are ready to put their unique talents and expertise to work in their communities, and enrich their own lives in the process.

Senior Corps connects todayâ€™s over 55s with the people and organizations that need them most. We help them become mentors, coaches or companions to people in need, or contribute their job skills and expertise to community projects and organizations. Conceived during John F. Kennedy's presidency, Senior Corps currently links more than 500,000 Americans to service opportunities. Their contributions of skills, knowledge, and experience make a real difference to individuals, nonprofits, and faith-based and other community organizations throughout the United States.

Senior Corps offers several ways to get involved. Volunteers receive guidance and training so they can make a contribution that suits their talents, interests, and availability.

The Foster Grandparent Program connects volunteers age 60 and over with children and young people with exceptional needs. Volunteers mentor, support, and help some of the most vulnerable children in the United States.

The Senior Companion Program brings together volunteers age 60 and over with adults in their community who have difficulty with the simple tasks of day-to-day living. Companions help out on a personal level by assisting with shopping and light chores, interacting with doctors, or just making a friendly visit.

RSVP connects volunteers age 55 and over with service opportunities in their communities that match their skills and availability. From building houses to immunizing children, from enhancing the capacity of non-profit organizations to improving and protecting the environment, RSVP volunteers put their unique talents to work to make a difference."

But it's really not a solution, is it? Seniors who need daily care and attention of some kind might be OK in an assisted living facility like this one: http://www.retirementresidences.com/homes/8011/. Unfortunately, it means a culture of only one age group and most of us don't like that. Most of us are happiest among humanity in all its variety.

One of the BIGGEST urban problems we ALL face is the proliferation of housing like this garbage http://www.bccondos.ca/forums/viewtopic.php?t=268, rabbit-hutches so architecturally challenging inside and out that you need a personal care attendant to get to the bathroom when you simply sprain an ankle. If we build WAY-YYY more places with accessibility/barrier free free design features (many of which are listed here
http://www.bccondos.ca/forums/viewtopic.php?p=920#920) more of us could remain independent longer.

Of course, we also need to get a better grip on standards for personal care attendants, who are unfortunately often unregulated (meaning no one's tracking complaints, which leaves clients extremely vulnerable). See Home Care http://www.bcdisabilities.com/bcdisforum/viewtopic.php?t=62.

In a culture that worships youth at any price, the notion of making seniors a priority is almost laughable. This could change, though, as boomers reach retirement age. We'll see.

Money is, of course, at the heart of the problem. Those seniors who retired with a pension are maybe OK for awhile, though pension funds are draining more rapidly than they're being refilled. The trick seems to be to conduct personal finances over the course of our lives so that there is enough left over to take care of us when we're old. Means delaying gratification and saving - not something Americans like to do.

One last thing: The withdrawal of food and water you describe is an end of life procedure the medical establishment practises only when the patient's organs have pretty much shut down and usually only if the family agrees. At that point, patient would be ill-advised to eat or drink as body is unable to process anything so that everything would be ingested in the lungs resulting in drowning. The usual procedure is to keep patient hydrated intravenously at a level that allows them to be comfortable until the inevitable occurs. Some families freak out with this and insist on food, which may prolong the agony for awhile in some cases.

Willow

I work in this field and the whole ethos of my job is to help people to stay in their own homes. We provide all manner of equipment and adaptations to allow this to happen. I work with this group for the very reasons you gave, the last thing I and my colleagues want is to see them in care. I work for a local authority not a care agency. Demand your rights, and those for whom you care for. Good luck x

mach

For those elderly who still have children,I think it is a disgrace for them to go into such institutions.As you rightly pointed out as parents the loved cared and clothed us.what away to pay them back.Those without family should have a choice to be be taken care of in their own homes some may like the company of others in CARE HOMES.For the infirm specialised CARE units at the tax payers expense.I'm saying this in advance,and hope that I will live a long and fruitful life.

helloyou

Yes. I regularly pass a retirement home and the same people are sat in the same chairs. It doesn't look as if there is any joy in anyone's life there, just complete acceptance.
This is so wrong after a long life working, bringing up a family, running a home, then to be deprived of that home to exist in bland surroundings,suffer indifferent care and indifferent food.
It just is not right.

claire

they can and many of them do. however, some of them are incapable of looking after themselves and are unable to make that decision. unfortunately the government stop caring about them and focus on the young peoples 'cause they see them as more important.

Scouse

Indeed they are for no other reason than it is cheaper to look after them in their own home than in an institution. Most only go in care when they are a danger to themselves.

Sunny Day

I recently made enquiries for an elderly relative who is now in her nineties and nearly blind, she had a couple of nasty falls recently, the care homes that I contacted wanted nearly a thousand pounds a week, with the care workers on minimum wage. The home owners are getting very rich.
She couldn't afford to go into a home and I am not in a position to help but we have now got some care workers to visit her twice a day and she is much happier staying in her home with us visiting her to do her shopping and chatting to her keeping her up to date with gossip.

Dee L

I work for a Local Authority and elderly people are ALWAYS given the opportunity of being looked after in their own homes.

People who do eventually go into homes do so because they are no longer able to live at home for a variety of reasons but always because they cannot remain safely in their home.

Discussions with the person and their families take place regularly and views are taken into account when decisions are made.

Unfortunately it is not always possible for their families to look after them again for a variety of reasons.

Finally your dream of the tax payer footing the bill will never happen - no Government would be willing to raise income tax by the amount needed.

oogabooga37

Don't they already have that choice? Stop advocating "giving" from me!

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: