Aging in dignity

The continuously raise in life longevity of the population has considerably increased the number of seniors in our society. This resulted in a further need of institutions capable to cater for old people not being able to live on their own or who could not be hosted by relatives. Special homes have been created for seniors requiring special care as for example St Vincent de Paul Hospital is providing for people with dementia. One would have thought that a change of government would not affect the running of government hospitals and old peoples home. Unfortunately, the reality is quite different. Taking as example St Vince de Paul hospital, the ward hosting seniors with dementia was a state of the art place, operated by caring nurses in a very bright, well lit modern environment. The patient were taken out of their beds early morning and spent their days in the ward, having a few outside activities during the week. They were under good medical care and had a balanced diet. The change of government also got changes in the ward. Suddenly people of the dementia ward were transferred to other wards and their life environment (or what is left of it) has totally changed: while they were used to spend their daytime outside of their bed, dressed, now they find themselves confined to their beds. Their menue became unbalanced and nurses were replaced by government friendly nurses. It is depressing visiting them at 6pm and finding all the old people in their beds, some of them sleeping, vegetating, waiting for the next day or the paradise. One feels filled with anger and frustration seeing these people, who have spent their lives building this society, raising their children often under hardship but with love, ending in these wards, abandoned by society and government. The society’s duty towards them is to provide them with space and care allowing them to age in dignity and not being considered as a financial and human burden. Despite their age, one still could listen to their told experiences, and they still contribute to our society despite their condition and age. They still provide the younger generation with work in their old people homes, for nurses, doctors, cleaners,chefs… We should not accept that a change of government degrades the living conditions of our older generation and we should make sure that they can age in dignity. One day, we will be in their situation.