The Forbidden Subject
by Mystical Whitewolf on May 31, 2008 with 15 Comments
Elderly Abuse.
Today I talk a bout the ongoing subject of Elder Abuse. I find myself at loss
of words and understanding to as of how some treat those that brought them
into the world. I often ask myself why is it we toss those that raised us up
with love and tender care away when they become too old and can not take
care of themselves any longer. Our elders are an important part of our society
and have much wisdom and knowledge inside them to offer. They make up the
largest part of our generation and they bring forth many teachings that can
help the younger generation if they are allowed too speak. Why are there
those that can not take care of their parents? Why do they feel that it is to
much of an inconvenience to put aside some of the things in their personal
life’s so they can tend to their loved ones properly?
Why do we lock them away in homes and let other’s tend to their needs? Why
is it we only go visit them when it serves our self centered purpose? Why is
it? We can not help them to bath them selves because they are not flexible
enough or strong enough to do it for their self. Why is it we can not find the
time to just simply ask them how their night was or day went? There are many
forms of abuse and one must ask themselves, how would they feel if they were
treated in this way? The elder mentions he or she would like to have a bath
as they are dirty and the child goes by their room several hours later and ask
them why they’re crying. Could it be the child was to busy sitting at her or his
computer in search of a mate on this the all empowering internet? Could it be
that they feel it is not up to them to see to things as simple as this, because
there are others in the family that could help but chose not too? The point
being that we can always find reasons to neglect our responsibilities towards
our elderly. Few can find reasons to be responsible.
In the village of my people we would never treat our elders in such a way as to
lower their self worth and strip away from them their dignity. We would never
find it an inconvenience to take care of them as they were are caregivers and
they went without much so we could have when times were difficult. They
taught us to be respectful of mother earth and of each other. They raised us
up to understand that the family was our greatest assets and also our greatest
strengths. We were taught that our Elders had much to give, because their
walk in this realm of flesh and bone taught them many things that should be
passed on to those that were young and beginning their own walks through life.
I ask you this, Is it not time that we adjust our ways of thinking? Change
starts one person at a time and it starts with our self first. Is it not time we
think about changing the popular attitudes concerning the treatment of our
Elders?
You are the judge and I invite any and all to submit their thoughts
about this to me. It’s the coming together and the sharing of ideas that
eventually causes change. I like to call this cause and effect.
Please feel free to leave behind your thoughts and comments on this article,
Good or bad it doesn’t matter. Its by discussing issues that we learn how to
bring about change. Will you help me to change the way we treat our elderly
loved ones? If we work together as one and speak out in one voice, can we
bring about the much need changes concerning the personal and also private
care of our elderly loved ones?
Liked it
Published in: Family
The Quail | May 31, 2008 | Reply
Awesome article well written and strkes to the heart of an ongoing problem in our society today.Very moving and to the point.
Rachel | May 31, 2008 | Reply
Fantastic article. Keep up the great writing. I agree, Elder care should be the responsibility of his children unless full medical help is required.
Marie | May 31, 2008 | Reply
Thank you for your kind words. Was not sure how people would take this but as it is something that is close to my heart I posted it. Glad you liked it.
Marie | May 31, 2008 | Reply
Rachel,
You are right about the neccesity of full medical care. But I feel only when the family can not afford the expense of getting them professionals to come in and help. Like I told Mike it will generate mixed reviews which is fine. Everyone is entittled to there views.
Marie | Jun 4, 2008 | Reply
We all see things in life and yes I too have seen many worse places and much worse abuse of all types. A shame motivator only to those who are ashamed. As to the things here in the US, most people do not see the homeless either.
As for the photo’s no there is no copyright on them, but thank you for asking.
mike | Jun 4, 2008 | Reply
Great article, I see another made arather discouraging remark and also made an assumption concerning photo’s? Hobo get a life! That’s no way to encourage up and coming writers. The writer is correct in what she has said and if you think its a shame motivator then maybe you are lacking to jump so hard on another.
Maybe we should be ashmed of the way we treat our elderly. Think before you speak.
Marie | Jun 4, 2008 | Reply
I am glad you liked my article. And everyone is intitled to his/her opinion.
This article is to open the public eye to the change of family values. And it looks like it is. Thank you for your incouragement.
Rachel | Jun 4, 2008 | Reply
Hobo, come on… change of behavior only comes about when the reader is willing to make a change.
Sometimes we act out of ignorance, sometimes out of not wanting to be out of our personal comfort zone, and of course we always ignore what is not our business… so if the elderly is not your relative or someone you know, you just don’t care, right?? Well, if all people are like that, I think as a human race, we are doomed!!
Who’s talking about helping a 3rd world country when you don’t even help your own neighbor?? Go for a walk in your neighborhood, and open your eyes and ears, see the elderly or weak… don’t just keep on walking…
Marie | Jun 4, 2008 | Reply
Rachel,
Very good points made. We all should take walks around our neighborhood and see just what we miss from only driving through. There is so many who just want to be heard.
Wildrose | Jun 4, 2008 | Reply
Marie I compleatly agree with u on what was said in your artical I too have worked in nursing homes and have seen the neglect of our elderly. There is a time and place for nursing homes, but some use them to dump what they concider a burden OUR ELDERS. They gave us live and tought us all that they could and some forget that and abandon them to nursing homes.
I would bring them to my house on holidays whene no one would visit them. There faces would light up to see the kids running around and the mayham going on all around. They felt apart of live again, and not forgotten.
I too know the troubles with having your elder to care for as my mother has altzhimers I had her with me as long as I could (10yr) before it got to the point of violance, and I had to release her to a nursing home, but I still go to see her almost everyday. I will never forget the word and faces of the ones I cared for in the nursing home that did not have the problem like my one mother, They felt so abandoned and forgoten. Most had not seen anyone in there family for over 2 or more years. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN OUR SOCIETY.
Marie | Jun 4, 2008 | Reply
Wildrose,
Thank you for your comment. When you work in the nursing homes and home health care we do see more than others see and we hear more from the elderly than others will ever know is said.
This is the problem I am trying to address…….
Glynis Smy | Aug 15, 2008 | Reply
A well written article addressing huge problem.
Mystical Whitewolf | Aug 18, 2008 | Reply
Hi Glynis,
Thank you for your wonderful comment. I am glad that my article touched you so much. It is what I was hoping it would do.
Marie
Paul LaVelle333 | Sep 9, 2008 | Reply
Another well written article, it is heartwrenching to know that the elderly are treated as ancient relics or artifacts no longer cared for, just displays of the aging process…your article is definitely food for thought
Mystical Whitewolf | Sep 9, 2008 | Reply
Hi Paul,
Thank you for leaving a comment. This was an article that touches my heart deeply and needed very much to be written. It needs to be brought to the attention of everyone as we all will be old one day. If not tomorrow soon.