Nursing Homes - should Western society take the example of other cultures and look after their elderly?

Question

Eastern, Arabic and Mediterranean cultures all look after their elderly family members in their homes until they die.

Is the Nursing Home a selfish concept?

Answer 1

Personally, having worked in a nursing home and had an ill parent die at home, I could not agree with you more. That used to be the norm in America as well, but what with more & more women working outside of the home, it can be impractical. When my Mom became disabled, my husband & I decided that as he made less $$, he would quit his job to stay home with her, and we cut back our lifestyle, but I guess many are not willing (or, to be fair, able) to do this. Having worked in such a place, a better one in a small community, I saw alot to break my heart. Some families really couldn't afford home care (Medicare picks up alot of nursing home care) and visited often and continued to make their parents a part of their lives, but many, really, most, did not. It was horribly sad to work on Christmas or Thanksgiving, and see these poor people (especially the lucid ones) not even get a phone call.

Too many people treat their elderly like trash, and nursing homes like a dumping ground. I firmly believe that they cared for you when you couldn't take care of yourself, at great expense & personal cost. That's the least you could do for them at the end of their lives.

Answer 2

in my opinion, yes it would be great if the elderly could stay in their homes until death, well taken care of. but the US doesn't support that in any way shape or form. the money earners (mom & pop both work these days) to support the elderly (most elderly have little or NO money) & their other family are working long hours to make this happen. where are the elderly day care centers that people can afford or, are part of our social security retirement benefits? tax breaks? proper & affordable transportation to appointments? affordable meds? there are Many problems! a nursing home is a means to an end, to the country's failure to value the elderly. vote for people that have a solution to this problem! it's the only way to change it unless you want to come up with some good legislation. go for it & good luck!

Answer 3

some people don't have the gap, nor the time, to ideal look after the elderly. That makes nursing homes a sturdy decision. yet are the elderly getting any further clever care IN a nursing domicile? Thats an entire nother question.

Answer 4

Maybe an answer could be the old helping the old. I hate victimization in this society. A person loses their self respect. What if there was a social movement with the old helping the old. Like the "grey panthers" that use to be like the "black panthers". I don't want to be dependent on anyone... least of my family. Which by the way I have no dependents. So this is a question for me to resolve. Thanks for the thought provoking concept. No I don't think nursing homes are selfish. It seems like if I want someone to care for me... I would have to pay them. I guess if you have kids you probably feel differently.

Answer 5

No, with most couples working full time they don't have the time needed to take care of them the right way. Not all nursing homes are bad and the ppl working there are there because they like taking care of the elderly. Yes, it's hard on the ppl to leave their homes they've had for years, but for their safety and health, it's for the best. It would be nice to have the time, money and patience to keep them at home.

Answer 6

My very elderly relatives do not like living with the family. They prefer living in a retirement village/home with people their own age, so they can chat about the good old days, sing old songs, play cards and bingo etc, and go on bus trips. They hate our modern music and will only listen to music prior to the 1950's. Also they only will eat very plain English style food which is over cooked to make it very soft for them to eat. We have tried to accommodate them but there was always complaints. It's better for them and the younger members of the family if we live separately.

Answer 7

i believe they should but you must remember families first of all, aren't as close as they used to be and secondly person in the home work or have a lot of running round to do in one day.And no i don't think its selfish,think of it like this if you were just diagonose with a deadly cancer or disease the person you would want to comfort you is someone close to you.Well it the same thing when your old, you don't want to be tended to by stranger you woul d want family or someone close to you.