Controversy: disagreement, typically when prolonged, public, and heated. "he sometimes caused controversy because of his forceful views."
Debate: a discussion between people in which they express different opinions about something.
Opinion: a personal view, attitude, or appraisal.
A couple weeks ago, I wrote a column entitled 'Put the elderly in prison.' I received many positive comments, phone calls and visits from readers who experienced the same type of situation with a loved one that I had.
If you REALLY read my column, you understood that this was my opinion of a situation that occurred in my life. I put it out there for my readers to debate and help me through a terrible time in my life. Did it create some controversy? You bet, but isn't that what it's all about? I was hoping to get some input that would help me heal and move on from a devastating time in my life.
On the most part, that happened, although I did get some negative comments on social media that were not directed to me personally. Some nurses thought I was putting their profession down. Unfortunately when a percentage of one's profession doesn't pull their weight, the whole profession gets painted with the same brush. My sister is a nurse, one of my best friends is a nurse, AND my Mom was a nurse. Where do you think I got a lot of my information? There are great lawyers, teachers, doctors, etc. AND there are crappy ones. As one reader on Facebook said (not to me directly), according to my reasoning "all journalists suck based on this one article". I have never claimed to be a journalist, just a person with an opinion. Name calling will not fix this problem. W-5 is doing programs on this very subject. Not because it isn't happening, but to educate people and hopefully work towards awareness and a solution.
I even had some readers phone and ask to stop delivery of their paper because they disagreed with my article. Grow up, people! If we've lost the ability to have a good debate on a controversial subject which is someone's opinion, then I think we have much bigger problems than just the care of our elderly.
I did have one letter that totally missed the intent of my column. I wasn't putting down nurses. In fact, I said "there are some dandy ones out there". I was sharing a life experience in which I was hoping to get rid of some of the bitterness I felt towards the system that my Father spent his final days in.
The reader said he found it "puzzling why a loving daughter would leave her parent in such a terrible place as that which she described. If it was me, I would get my parent out of there and if I couldn't find a good nursing home, I would take him/her home and hire a live-in caretaker. I don't think it would cost more than the $4,000 dollars that she was talking about."
All I can say to that is WOW.you have NO CLUE. First of all, because of my father's needs, a private nurse runs up to about $65/hr. (we inquired), which makes an eight hour shift around $520 A DAY. That $4,000 would last less than TWO WEEKS (which was my point in the first place). Secondly - don't EVER question someone's love for a parent. That is just low.
I want to clarify that my Dad's ten month stay in Weyburn was fantastic. We were very blessed with caring, loving staff at the Special Care Home. It was when he returned home, to his hometown of almost 70 years, that he got lost in the system.
I think the regional health authorities and the colleges of these professions are also aware of the growing concerns of the public and not by articles in the media, but via complaints from the public. They are doing their best to help improve the care given by all providers. Changes and improvements can only be made by having these discussions and bringing these issues to light.
With a growing elderly population, there will be even more demands on the system in the future. It would be better to try to improve the situation now before it becomes a crisis.
Facebook saying of the week: The best times in our lives were not about what we had, but who we shared them with. (That is so true).
Pet peeve of the week: People who cut me (or anyone else) off when having a discussion. Sometimes it just takes a deep breath and a pause, but it makes for a much better conversation.
That's just me......let me know what you think!
