Abuse of the Elderly
By Alice Henry
@IreneVincent (15960)
United States
January 24, 2016 10:15am CST
Abuse of the elderly is a horrible thing.
Recently, I have seen several news reports where nursing home residents have been terribly mistreated. It makes me so angry.
Cameras should be in every room and when nurses or nurse’s aides mistreat a patient, they should be charged with a felony and go to jail.
Of all persons who are helpless to defend themselves, are the elderly who have been put in a nursing home, because they need EXTRA, TENDER care, that the family may not be able to provide.
They certainly don’t need to be mistreated in any way. Shame on anyone who mistreats them.
The Bible says at Proverbs 23:22 “Listen to your father who caused your birth, and do not despise your mother, just because she has grown old.” Good advice.
My daughter told me that she would never put me in a nursing home should I ever need around the clock attention. I would think that even if I could not defend myself, I would somehow be able to communicate to someone that I was being mistreated.
But, maybe not. I hope it never comes to that. I’m in my seventies and who knows what the future holds for me? I think of that Kenny Rogers song that says, “the best that we can hope for is to die in our sleep.”
What do you think?
6 people like this
5 responses
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
24 Jan 16
More often things like abuse are ignored, sadly. There are some nursing homes that are better than others. All could stand improvements though, I'm sure.
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
24 Jan 16
I agree wjhoe heartedly I am in a retirement center however n ot a n ursing h o me as so many people lump us all uder nursing homes the difference is we a re retired and need just minimum help not nursin ,. Here there are no nurses or aides or docters or hospital beds or wards. I would never have llowed my son to shove me in to a nursing home as Im not senile and am in full possession of m y mind. S o i beg people to learn the diffrence. 'a reti retirmenent center is not a nursing home at all
in no way,
2 people like this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
24 Jan 16
Yes, I certainly know the difference. My daughter, grand daughter and great grand daughter regularly visit a nursing home AND an assisted living home and I used to do jewelry shows at several retirement centers.
@RasmaSandra (98026)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Jan 16
@IreneVincent I have long thought that nursing homes are not the place for the elderly unless they are private homes. Of course few can afford to put their parents in such homes. You should see what is here in Latvia. All I can say then it is better to jump in front of a train. Such a sad situation because here many young people have become so aggressive and mean that if their parents cannot do for themselves they certainly won't. It does me good to see my hubby's daughter happily taking care of and living with her grandma, who cannot see.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
24 Jan 16
That is really nice that she is helping to take care of her grandma. My grandson helps me a LOT. I live in a house that is attached to my son's house, but is completely separate except for the laundry room. I have two bedrooms and a full bath upstairs and a large living room with a fireplace and a kitchen and 1/2 bath downstairs. Their house is much larger, but this is enough for me. We each have privacy but they are right there if I need them. And I help them quite a bit too, with various things. I used to babysit, but now my grandson is almost 15 years old and he can take care of himself. Now, I cat sit, if they go out of town, and I cook and bake some things for all of us from time to time.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (24021)
• United Kingdom
24 Jan 16
It is rarely as simple as telling someone but we also see people coming into hospital who have clearly been abused with certain types of bruising and changing behaviour when the abuser is around. If it is the staff that are abusing then they should be hung out to dry and sent to prison. There is far to much elder abuse going on which is brushed under the carpet. It is cruel and callous these people do not deserve to work with the elderly and vulnerable.
