Why are senior citizens being "thrown out" like garbage?

Question

Why is it that in most countries people care for their seniors, taking care of them and sacrificing for them till their dieing day, but in America we throw out our seniors as soon as they seem to be unable to function anymore? We put them into "homes" that basically strips them of their rights, tells them what to do, when to do it, how to do it. We pay top dollar to put our seniors in these homes, where they most often get worse. They develop illnesses that they probably would not have if not for these "homes" like bed sores and incontinence. And a lot of them are abused, physically and emotionally. Is this the right way to treat these people, would YOU want to be treated like this when you are old and "useless"?

I was a nurse in a nursing home. I know all about nursing homes. And why am I getting slammed here?

Answer 1

Because our goverment SUCKs they are for the money and we know most seniors dont have alot. They are cutting down medical everytime you turn around. The GOVERMENT SUCKS they are to damn busy helping other countries that are poor insted of their own and they are to busy to kick off all the people on WELFARE that is abusing the system. And its only going to get worse for them and everyone else unless you are rich

Answer 2

I do not totally agree. Not all seniors are in nursing homes. That's an ageist stereotype. Statistically, senior citizens in this country have the greatest concentration of wealth.
The health care issue is something else. Many people simply do not wish to, or really can't, take care of aging parents. Nursing home care should be respectful and of the best quality. This country is going to have to deal with this as the baby boomers start to become senior citizens. This is already happening.
You're getting slammed because of the way you worded your question. Not all seniors are being "thrown out like garbage." You worked in a nursing home and saw the worst-case scenario and are applying it to every senior citizen--and that's just not accurate.

Answer 3

When I'm old and useless I don't want to be a burden on my family...I wished that my family could put my 85 year old grandfather into a home, but no one would...so between 17 and 24 years old I was practically babysitting an 95% blind, alcoholic that my mother who is also an alcoholic would give liquor to and steal money from. He fell all the time, He smelled bad and he walked around the house with no clothes on because he was drunk and couldn't find his pants...My family had no respect for him if they did they would have put him in a home where he would have proper care instead of a worried granddaughter who had no control, no experience, and no choice until the day he died...

If you feel that bad about it, go and visit them and they will feel better...

Answer 4

I see three contributing factors:

1) Decline of valuation of the extended family. In a generation past, our elderly parents lived in the family home along with sons, daughters and grandchildren...until they died. But no one wants that anymore, because "my right" to live unencumbered by the burden of my aging parents should take precedence over their well being. This has become an acceptable, de facto standard in the American family.

2) Failure of sons to take seriously the responsibility they have for the care of their parents. Even if an adult son takes this seriously, many times his solution is, essentially, to just throw money at the problem to make it go away, rather than sacrifice time and his hobbies and his career pursuit for the sake of physically caring for his parents.

3) The culture's obsession with youth that infects everything from marketing to the diet and exercise industry to the music industry to cosmetic surgery to, finally, the valuation of what it means to be a member of society. Simply put, humans without physical strength, beauty, youth, sharp wits, etc. are not perceived as having any relevant value in our society, and so they are marginalized and "disposed" of to the fringes.

Just my 0.02.

Answer 5

I would call it a generation gap. My Mother is in not in a nursing home but you may as well call it that. She broke both hips, had 2 heart attacks, and cant take care of herself. Her kids go to see her alot and take care of her needs that we can take care of. She didnt want to live with any of the kids because she didnt want to be a burden to anyone. Sorry got off the subject.
It isnt like it was many years ago when families really stuck together through bad and good times.

Answer 6

If that is what you think a "home" does then you don't know any good ones. My mom owns one it is the best place for seniors to live in the state it has won three awards. And not all people in America just, as you put it, throw them out.

Answer 7

Well just because you are a senior citizen it doesn't mean that you are useless. It is wrong not to care for our mother and father, especially if they took care of us. It is cruel and unusual punishment and we don't even treat our pets that way. There are no homes for old pets, we love them until they die, so why should we treat our loved ones that way. I live in the US but my grandmother will live with us until her last breathe no one can love and take care of her like my family can.

Answer 8

It's because of the breakdown of the family structure in america, which is a byproduct of feminism. Parents care little for their kids, and kids despise their parents. What goes around comes around and when the parents get old it's fashionable to toss them in a home and wait for them to die.

Answer 9

Um I don't do that...my grandparents have never been in a home. Some people don't have the time to sacrifice day and night for an old person. Oh...and it's dying not dieing....

Answer 10

Love or lack of it is to blame. Most of these seniors have family that CAN take care of their loved ones. One persons answer "no time to do it" is pathetic. Where will you be? If you make it to old age! If you are truly loved by someone they will take care of and for you and make the time - to enjoy the good moments and lovingly work through the not so good moments and turning those bad times into opportunities to express how much you love them and are there for them. How are you truly loved by someone? Who is truly really loving you now? Do you truly love someone and if so how do you show them, what actions do you use, how creative are you in demonstrating that love? Do you put yourself second on numerous occasions so as to have the true grit that is required to accomplish this? This is how we could and should love our seniors ..and.. EACH OTHER. Love is the answer! If their smelly then bathe them! If they don't remember then remind them! If their grumpy then make them laugh! Remember the good ole times with them. Show them the roses. Be creative in how you love them. Take an interest. Make their last few years lovely. My Grandmother has alheimers. I look deeply into her eyes, I hold her hands, I bathe her, feed her, talk with her, answer her questions and expound upon them, I teach her, remind her, show her family photos of past and present, I read to her, I show her the roses, I LOVE her! I don't have to "make" time for her, I WANT to be with her. She was my rock and now I am hers! She truly loves me and I truly love her. Truly love yourselves and each other and you wont have to worry about being shoved into an unloving environment when YOU are "old".

Answer 11

I don't think you can really make that claim. You might be upset that some people do that, but 95% of the time that isn't true. I assume you don't really know what other countries do with their elderly, most likely because you've never read about it.