Leader: Give our elderly the treatment they deserve
Wednesday 23rd November 2011, 1:00PM GMT.
It is a sad indictment of our society that growing old and dependent on others is a potentially terrifying prospect.
The lucky ones will be looked after by their families, and treated with love, care, respect, and dignity. Understandably for many this is not a sustainable, long-term option.
There is another way. That is for the elderly to continue to stay in their own homes, but to get council-funded care.
But on the basis of a review of home care by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, this is a distinctly unappetising alternative.
To grasp the positive, about half of those giving evidence reported real satisfaction with care.
That leaves huge numbers of unhappy people with complaints ranging from physical abuse and rough handling to theft, neglect, patronising behaviour, and a failure to cook them hot meals for “health and safety” reasons.
This sort of treatment is, the commission makes clear, partly rooted in a basic lack of compassion and common sense.
Taken with a report earlier this month detailing stories of shameful care for the elderly in some NHS hospitals in England, the picture is one of an ingrained culture of poor regard for the old.
Some staff are not seeing personalities, but inconvenient and needy examples of enfeebled humanity. It is an attitude which leads to the dehumanisation of the elderly.
There is no easy answer. But a good start would be better training, and efforts to elevate the status of this band of workers who do a difficult and often unpleasant job for no great financial reward.
Because if the pool of compassionate, professional, high quality carers can be increased, it will be a big step towards ensuring the elderly get the care they deserve.
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Haven’t you noticed that it is basic childcare and care of the elderly that are jobs requiring skill and strong, positive personal qualities yet they are both extremely poorly paid?
I noticed jobs advertised for a new home for those requiring Dementia Care last week in the Star. The office administrative job was reasonable pay at approx. £7.85 per hr but the deputy manager was only offered just over £8.50 per hr. Meanwhile on the same page a deputy manager of a cowherd was £25-£30,000 per annum!
As this work was traditionally done for no reward in the not so distant past by women who stayed at home it is perceived to be unskilled and easy.
Being the care of vulnerable members of society the work is neither and never has been unskilled or easy.
Where does the writer of this letter get the notion that the job is unpleasant?
I get annoyed with letters and posts making out wiping bottoms is the pits in terms of a job, it being just one small part of the necessary care of people.
I would equate telling someone their loved one has died or that they have terminal cancer the pits in a days work.
Caring for a person from head to toe is a privilege and gives great satisfaction if it is done well and keeping dignity intact.
What isn’t good is being given too much work to do so care has to be done at a fast, ridiculous and exhausting rate.
What isn’t good either is being paid less than a supermarket shelf filler, cleaner, paper deliverer, car park attendant in fact being the lowest paid members of society. Excepting those people of course who opt to remain at home as unpaid workers/carers nurturing the next generation or reducing the burden on society of older folk often with extra needs due to disabilities.
People are always keen to criticize yet everyday nurses and carers go the extra mile ( opps! yukky managerial terminology!)in their job, it is what make the job worthwhile.
What is wrong is a society that promotes the phrase ” because I’m worth it ” as I have loads of money, good looks, assets etc.
You can only say that with real honesty when you think other people are worth it and treat them as you would wish them to treat you.
I see people working as carers who are sadly bitter and feel unrespected due to poor working conditions and poor pay.
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