Passive Euthanasia: Amerika Neglects Its Elderly [Back to the Homepage]
By Joe Pavone
Author's Note -- This essay is based upon on my literally hundreds of hours visiting and volunteering in nursing homes over the past 6 and ½ years.
NURSING HOMES, THE END GAME- FOR THE END OF LIFE.
February 20, 2007 -- It's my contention that the present-day state of the elderly in Amerika is a condition of general neglect leading to premature death. This is not a blatant and a headline-gathering condition-but rather one hidden from the public eye. It's not a state of actively killing off the elderly a la Dr. Jack Kevorkian, but one of simply abandoning these elderly to a slow death-hence my title-"Passive Euthanasia".
The nursing home industry in Amerika is struggling with several issues; among them are understaffing, Medicaid cutbacks, and lack of general help from a concerned citizenry. An excellent article at Counterpunch.org
Evelyn Pringle: Inside America's Nursing Homes
sheds much light on this situation, and I highly recommend it. Among the items that Ms. Pringle cites are nursing home residents facing neglect resulting in bedsores, poor nutrition, substandard medical treatment, and unsanitary conditions.
"There is a generation that curses their father, and does not bless their mother." (Proverbs 30:11)
 The nursing home population of Amerika is predominantly made up of elderly women, wheelchair-bound and suffering from several maladies of old age. Everyone knows of the scourge of Alzheimer's disease, but additionally the elderly often are suffering from mild dementia, incontinence, and inability to move about safely without the aid of a walker or wheel chair.
The bottom line is this: after a lifetime of service to husbands and children, these aged Moms and Grandmas are now consigned by family members to these facilities and left to the mercy of strangers-without family involvement or caregivers in most cases. There, these elderly are often also subjected to abuse:
Literally dozens of these stories have been in the news over the past several years. Often these elderly folks have also been financially victimized as well by the family members they thought would look after them.
"Listen to your father who sired you, and do not despise your mother when she is old." (Proverbs 23:22)
A key problem today is attracting and keeping CNA'S who will be diligent and motivated to care for their patients. The Certified Nursing Assistant is crucial in any nursing home. These aides do the work of daily washing, dressing, and often feeding their patients. Yet they are often underpaid, with little education and often a poor command of the English language. The truth also must also be stated here-there is a racial divide in existence in many cases. Poorly paid black immigrants and elderly white residents often cannot relate on a number of levels.
Some of the key issues needing attention with your loved one who is a nursing home resident often are:
- BEDSORES: - can lead to sepsis (infection of the blood) and painful rashes.
- DEHYDRATION - another leading cause of death, resulting from an inadequate intake of fluids.
- OVERMEDICATION - be sure to monitor the medications given to your loved one
- DEPRESSION and LONELINESS - often resulting from inadequate family attention and visitation.
HELP WANTED: CAREGIVERS WITH A JESUS HEART
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit orphans and widows in their afflictions, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27)
My suggestions are these:
- If your loved one must be in a nursing home-make it the closest one to minimize your commute and maximize your visitation time.
- Visit for at least 30-60 minutes daily, especially at a meal time to ensure adequate feeding and nutrition are being given-don't hesitate to take over the feeding yourself.
- Check the room daily: is anything missing? Is clothing being changed daily? (check laundry hamper)
- Speak to nurse on duty in charge of your loved one and let her know you will be a regular visitor-monitor all medications and changes in medications. You have the right to refuse medications-if there is any conflict on this-call the State Dept of Health complaint hotline for your state.
- If you are not satisfied with the nurse and her care-speak to the nursing supervisor on duty. Should that not bring satisfaction-speak to the Director of Nursing at the institution. If all else fails, call the Dept. of Health complaint line for your state.
- Call physician assigned to your loved one and let them know you are responsible and the caregiver for their patient-let them know you want to be kept abreast of medical treatment.
- Monitor weight on a monthly basis-get monthly weight figure from nurse.
- If your loved one is lucid-don't hesitate to bring newspapers or other reading materials-the elderly have much time on their hands.
- Keep their morale high also by having hair and nails done regularly and clothing in good shape. Don't hesitate to bring in mealtime treats consistent with their health and condition-ask nurse if in doubt.
- To boost morale-talk to them, encourage them, pray with them-let them know you care and they are loved. Tell them you will be visiting regularly and they can count on you!
"Then the King shall say to those on His right hand, Come, blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in;
I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.
Then the righteous shall answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry, and fed You? Or thirsty, and gave You drink?
When did we see You a stranger, and took You in? Or naked, and clothed you?
Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and came to You?
And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me." (Matthew 25:34-40)
The world, the church, the Amerikan government, are neglecting these lost souls, many of whom are simply waiting to die and living lives of depression and loneliness.
So you, reader - you be Jesus Christ to them. You bring them His love and compassion as a living example of Christianity-not in words only, but in ACTION.
"But whoever has this world's goods and sees his brother having need, and shuts up his bowels from him, how does the love of God dwell in him?
My children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:17, 18)
Websites for caregivers:
I invite your questions and comments. Email me (Joe Pavone) at:
joe@calvinistcontender.org
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