Don't Forget the Elderly When They Need Your Care

Don’t forget the elderly when they need your care

26 OCTOBER 2010

The hate love relationship that often exists between the media and the politicians appears to be yet continuing occasionally gathering momentum especially when some officious law enforcing officer decides to act with high handed efficiency and the naturally irritated press takes umbrage and various political parties decide that this is a glorious opportunity or them to add their critical dismay!

While this situation provides for amusement, criticism or irritation depending on the political stance of the readers another factor that is a fairly common source of amusement is the continuing concern among ministers and deputy ministers to gain brownie points especially since soon it will be November and chances are that when the President takes oath for a new term of office he may decide to appoint others to positions of ministerial importance.

As elders become more physically frail, they’re less able to stand up to bullying or fight back if attacked. They may not see or hear as well or think as clearly as they used to, leaving openings for unscrupulous people to take advantage of them. Mental or physical ailments may make them more trying companions for the people who live with them. Many elders are abused in diverse ways by their own family members and, most often in their own homes where abusers are apt to be adult children; other family members such as grandchildren; or spouses/partners of elders. Institutional settings especially long-term care facilities can also be sources of elder abuse. Abuse of elders takes many different forms, some involving intimidation or threats against the elderly, some involving neglect, and others involving financial chicanery. Often aged parents are pressurized to write their wills especially the house they live in, in favour of the adult child who often with his family is living with them, and when that is done a certain metamorphosis takes place in the attitude of the adult child and his family.

It is difficult to take care of a senior when he or she has many different needs, and it’s difficult to be elderly when age brings with it infirmities and dependence. Both the demands of caregiving and the needs of the elder can create situations in which abuse is more likely to occur. Furthermore these issues are more compounded when financial constraints prevent proper or necessary health care for the elderly.

Would it not be possible for the government to make some arrangement with the Ceylon Insurance Corporation  to take a small percentage from the monthly pensions of government servants to cover the  health costs needed when they fall sick. This will reduce any burden that their children will have to bear and also make the elderly less vulnerable to neglect . Furthermore, since it is mandatory for all private sector companies to pay EPF. The same system can be worked out in association with the Insurance corporation. Moreover since now great publicity is being given to Farmers and Fishermen’s pensions and moves are being made even to have a pension scheme for the self employed,  providing a health coverage for all pension holders with suitable and graduated premiums will enable the elderly to have more security and less neglect in their old age.

Essentially what is needed to help the elderly is to set up an Authority  with the assistance and the expertise of organizations  like Helpage so that the elderly feel that they are recognized for all the services they have given to society in the best years of their lives.

SOURCE:  The Daily Mirror, UK








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