Elderly care is a very secret business nowadays. How well - and how poorly - we treat our elderly, our mothers and fathers and relatives, is not something that is often talked about.
We'd like to think that our relatives are well-taken care of in the retirement homes we ship them off to, but sometimes that's not the case.
Few Americans are aware of the abuse that is rampant in some retirement and convalescent homes. The abusers are their so-called "caregivers," who pledge their lives to give their patients comfort in the last few years or months of their lives.
America needs to be exposed to these well-kept secrets.
“The social worker who came out today wanted to put the Mom into a convalescent home. I don’t want to watch that happen,” explained Irene. “When Mom was doing well and we would discuss about her future, she told me that she wanted to stay with me as long as I can continue to take care of her.”
“Did you guys write this down?” I asked. “And if so, do you have a witness who was present at the time?”
“No, we did not write it down, we were just talking about the future,” Irene said. “And no, oh yes, my husband was present at the time, but you know that he is not here anymore. So, what can I do now?”
I heard the government is cutting the money for elderly care programs. I think this is why they try to do what they are doing. However, there are things that I don’t understand. For example: When they put your mother or some elderly person in a convalescent home it costs much more a month than just paying for a caregiver to come to their home. But you know, what I have seen with my own eyes is that when somebody goes into these facilities, they are usually going to be gone permanently very soon. I wonder why they are doing this, but I think this is the one goal of the programs.
About Zsazsa Samu
Susan Zador/ Zsazsa Samu is a student of the human condition, wielding the written craft to enrapture the mind much like an artist wields a brush. The pages are a blank canvas on which to draw from a talent heralded by many and matched only by an imagination that rises to the task. Our Caregivers is the first in a series of recent pursuits, with work progressing quickly on the follow-up.
Elderly care is a very secret business nowadays. How well - and how poorly - we treat our elderly, our mothers and fathers and relatives, is not something that is often talked about.
Susan Zador/ Zsazsa Samu is a student of the human condition, wielding the written craft to enrapture the mind much like an artist wields a brush. The pages are a blank canvas on which to draw from a talent heralded by many and matched only by an imagination that rises to the task. Our Caregivers is the first in a series of recent pursuits, with work progressing quickly on the follow-up.