Every morning when I wake up I am almost always amazed that everything is still “working”, kind of. When I have completed my morning floor exercises my body is working even better. But my knees aren’t what they used to be, though I am still hopeful that through pure determination and supplemental ingredients I can lift them to a higher “standard”. Alright, I won’t mention the other slight physical draw backs that occur after sixty!
What I would like to draw attention to is the way the very old, in my opinion, are suffering. There comes a point when one can no longer “operate” independently. That is inevitable, but the way we, in this society deal with that phase of life is worrisome. On a regular basis I visit nursing homes and I volunteer for Hospice, and what I observe is not pretty. Let’s be honest: the sight is NOT pretty!
I get rather emotional when I see these poor folks lying in chairs without a voice - you know the voice that you and I have. A voice with which I can speak up and protest when necessary. And I wonder why these people are still waking up every day. For what reason, for whom? The relatives are away, sometimes far away, the nursing home employees fulfill their daily functions admirably, but it is a routine - not a family love affair, the nurses and doctors come and go with stethoscope and medicine, and the meals are many times only partially consumed. A tragic sight, and I want this society to do something about it, but the chances for action in my life time are not good.
Yes, we need to make a “U-turn”.
The medical world - the doctors, the nurses need to start to protest. Questions need to be raised, such as: Why do we let those folks go on living? Don’t tell me that they still want to live, because that is highly unlikely, most of the time. I have heard “patients” say to me: “Life stinks!” I have seen and been with people who sit listless next to me - motionless. Some roll their eyes, some mumble something, no one knows what.
.... and the nursing home personnel dutifully does its duty, while the family members are mostly far away in body and mind.
Quite frankly ... Oh, I better not tell you what I really think about this. What do YOU think should be done? Now is the time to speak up. You still can!
