TTP | Dinosaur Blues
Elderly Abuse -
January 12th, 2012
What’s worse than dying young? Living too long. Sitting in a nursing home sucking dinner through a straw is no one’s idea of a good time, but imagine being abused, neglected and/or stolen from while there.
The nation’s elderly population is growing faster than gramp’s ear hair, and so too are incidences of senior citizen abuse. Worse yet, it’s not a roving gang of rascal scooter-riding octogenarians doling out the pain, but rather the relatives and caregivers stuck changing diapers and tuning the TV to Matlock.
What to do, you ask? We say smoke em if ya got em.
[Join the conversation about ... Elderly Abuse.]
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19M
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Projected number of American citizens that will be 85 and over in 2050. In 1994, there were 3 million. What does this mean? Soon nearly all of Florida will smell like urine. |
We've put more effort into helping folks reach old age than into helping them enjoy it.
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Frank Howard Clark (1888-1962)
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ADL (activities of daily living)
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noun. healthcare term used primarily for the elderly and disabled. ADLs are basic daily tasks like grooming, dressing, going to the bathroom and eating.
Used in a sentence: Todd waited for his mother to lose her ADLs before he called his sister and told her it was her turn to take care of her.
Family caregivers, particularly women, provide over 75% of caregiving support in the United States. While men also provide caregiving, women spend 50% more time doing so.
Old School(ed)
| Aging in Place | When an elderly person is able to live in their own home comfortably. |
| Independent Living | A retirement community (condos, apartments) where the aged can canoodle with one another. Yard work and other maintenance is handled by the facility operator. |
| “Village” Concept | Elderly live in their own homes but have people help them shop for groceries, clean, do laundry and shuttle them to the doctor and other errands. Normally a paid monthly service. |
| Assisted Living Facility | Place where a person is assisted with their ADLs and healthcare appointments are coordinated. Sometimes set up like apartment housing. |
| Nursing Home | Next stop, the morgue! A 24/7 healthcare facility for the mentally and physically ailing. Walk into one of these and you’ll make a note to take up chainsaw juggling at 75. |
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Death is remarkably depressing, but being mentally/physically dead while still alive is heartbreaking. Caregiving is no doubt a stressful gig, but if you’re not the one doing the caring, be vigilant and carefully do a check on the one who is. Today’s piece was remarkably depressing and has inspired us to drink. See you at the bar. |
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