Five elderly residents of a Melbourne nursing home died this week – and another three are sick in hospital – after an outbreak of Salmonella over Easter.
Chief executive Sharon Callister of Benetas – which runs the Broughton nursing home in Camberwell – said on Monday it was gastroenteritis, and not food poisoning that struck the aged care facility.
It raises the question of - how should elderly parents best be looked after, when they are no longer able to care for themselves? There are a couple of options out there-
• They can move into a nursing home
• They can have a home help arrangement where cleaners and gardeners visit their home to help them look after things, while still retaining some independence
• Or, they can move in with your family, and you can look after them
Maybe you’ve had to deal with this very question – what solution worked best for you and your family?
What would be your preference when you get to that age?
I want to hear your thoughts on this.
Comments (1)
I'm of Maori heritage and in our culture their is an unbroken line in the family unit. Older people are always respected as elders and are expected to be cared for by the family.
My two grandparents died in our house surrounded by the whole family. We were called home from school moments before they died. I suppose what I am saying is this; when do older people cease to be family and when does our care for them cease?
In our culture Aged care homes are not an option.
For myself, my wife and I have 12 children and we are aged 46 & 47. Our children are already arguing over who will have mum and dad. Each of them wants to care for us in our old age. I think it is sad when the value of the older person is depreciated.
However these things follow the natural flow of a contrary world view to the Bible. Abortion, euthanasia are considered ethical means to a relative or sociological end.
And thats because the Christian has lost the consensus so the empiricist and the pantheist have seized the opportuniy.
Posted by Hona Wikeepa | April 23, 2007 2:19 PM
Posted on April 23, 2007 14:19