Wait.wait. Read on. A friend of mine sent the below to me and it really brought back some personal views on how our elderly population is treated. It went like this.
We should place the elderly in prisons because they will get a shower every day, video surveillance in case of problems, three meals a day, access to a library, computer, TV, gym, doctors on-site, and free medication if needed.
Put criminals in nursing homes and they'll get cold meals, lights off at 7 p.m., two showers a week, live in a smaller room and pay rent at $4,000 a month!!
It's pretty sad that we treat prisoners better than the elderly.
Although my friend is from the states, this blurb brought back some painful memories.
Some of you out there will have no idea what I'm talking about, but if you've had any encounter with our health care system, who'll know exactly where I'm coming from.
Our elderly population is being treated like they are expendable beings. These people have worked hard to make a life for their family when times were REALLY rough. They put their kids' needs before themselves and made our world what it is today.
Now when they need our help, we entrust them to the people who just want to collect a paycheque. Don't get me wrong. As in any occupation, there are some excellent employees and some really crappy ones. Unfortunately the compassion and care that your parents expect and deserve in their elderly years, is just not out there. I have heard more horror stories concerning our elderly population since my family went through years of it with my Dad.
The 'person in charge' is NEVER around, so the other minions are just programmed to take a message and tell you that someone will get back to you. Blah, blah, blah. After a few days you approach someone else who surprisingly gives you the same answer, yet that 'person in charge' never gets back to you and is never around. Surprise!! I can tell you first hand, the care is not what you think it is. What really saddens me is the people who have no one come to visit them. If this is what we encountered when at least one person (and many times, much more) from my family was with my Dad, I can't imagine what went on to those lonely residents.
This is just a heads up to my readers out there who still have their parents. Cherish them, love them, protect them but most of all give them your time. That way, you can go home and know that you have done everything to make their final days on earth as comfortable as possible. (And by the way, they only get one shower a week in a long term care facility - pretty sad, hey!)
Facebook saying of the week: Never reply when you are angry. Never make a promise when you hare happy. Never make a decision when you are sad. Now that is some great advice.
Pet peeve of the week: The stupid commercials that run on the TV and radio stations that say how caring and loving registered nurses are. What a crock! I agree, there are some dandy nurses out there, just not the ones I encountered when I really needed one. I think if you have an advertising campaign that claims to "have the knowledge, the training, the expertise, the problem solving that is needed" and that they "make a difference in people lives", then I would also think that you wouldn't need a advertisement to convey that message. The proof is in the pudding, as my mother always said!
That's just me......let me know what you think!
