It is a sign of our self-centred times that for most of us, particularly when we are young and heathy, growing old is something we dismiss from our thoughts almost as if it is something that will never happen to us: there are jokes about old age and impatience and disrespect for those who are slow and infirm. It is an attitude that is endemic in many societies resulting in mental, emotional or physical abuse from many including some relatives, nurses and carers.
A new "Which?" report in Britain, headline news today, gives shocking examples of cruelty and abuse by those people who are paid to give care to elderly people living at home, and I hope it will result in a major and much-needed change in attitude and provision. Some of the stories of neglect given in the report are on such a scale that an animal owner, treating it similarly, would be imprisoned. There have been reports and cries of horror before, but nothing much has changed.
Unless we choose to make an early exit from our world, all of us will be old one day and sometimes the afflictions of old age come upon us without warning and great suddenness; old age or its symptoms can be with us for a very long time and you and I do not know if and when we will need to ask for help from others to help us survive, let alone enjoy, the rest of our human life. It is sad that, for those who dare to look ahead to their old age, unless they have good resources they may feel trepidation as they see how their last cycle may be one of endurance rather than contentment. Families can be self-centred too, not just carers.
This is now, however, and today's scenario can be tomorrow's past. It takes just one spark of awareness and compassion from each of us to change humanity's attitude to old age completely. Our final years deserve to be ones of peace, comfort and reward for a life well-lived and learned, lived out and supported by a caring community. It is more than paying lip service, providing funding and visiting an aged relative occasionally, it is seeing also old age as a blessing and not an affliction, honouring those who have reached that place, those men and women who nurtured us when we were helpless, and who need our help now. We had the balance right before, and it is time to restore that balance - and we all have something to give.]]>
