Warehousing Our Elderly

It is a national shame that in our culture we stick ourhours, or spilling urine as the bedpan was removed
elderly in warehouses called nursing homes, orthen leaving me in a urine soaked bed and refusing to
assisted living or rehabilitation facilities. About twentychange my bed. One staff member refused closing
years big corporation recognized the huge moneythe door at night to shut out the noise in the hall or
profits by exploiting end of life care. Many churchesloud conversations of the night staff. Turning
had not-for-profit homes to care for older peopleoverhead bright lights on in the room at 3:00 AM to
who could no longer live independently. But one bytake my blood pressure because the nursing
one they were bought up by for profit corporations.assistant forgot to take it at bedtime wakened me.
In the United States older persons are invisible, notThese are just a few of the infractions I received.
valued or respected in general. We put those whoPhysical therapy was ordered but I didn't receive any,
have outlived their usefulness in institutions. Out ofyet my insurance company was charged for this
sight ---out of mind. Some fortunate older peopleservice. I requested a bedside commode and never
have family members who live close and can act asgot one. The staff said none were available.
advocates when they can't act on their own behalf.I was fortunate because I wasn't there permanently
But more and more families are spread out inbut my roommate was, and she was reduced to a
different states, even different countries, and thepassive compliant wimp. Prior to her stroke she was
elderly person is alonea Unitarian Minister a successful assertive woman. On
If the person has a stroke, ALS, terminal cancer orone occasion after she had been given a suppository
other life threatening illness and cannot speak forand was having severe abdominal cramps and she
himself or herself, they are often neglected,needed a bedpan during the night a nursing assistant
dehydrated even abused.threatened her if she turned on her call light again and
I recently spent five days in a nursing home taggedrefused to give her a bedpan. She cried in pain.
as a rehabilitation facility. It was an eye opener. TheGreedy corporate elderly care owners cut back on
nursing home collected big bucks from my healthquality care by hiring staff with little or no training,
care provider and was determined to keep me therepay minimum wages, cut back of food, have
as long as my insurance company paid. They gotinsufficient equipment available. They do little or no
more for rehabilitation patients than regularstaff in-service training or offer staff incentives to
"residents."reduce the difficult and depressing job. These
The care was abominable. My bed sheets weren'tadministrators are so far removed from the
changed for the entire time; I didn't receive a bath orrecipients of their services they have no idea nor do
even given a basin of warm water to sponge baththey care about quality of life issues, including
myself. I had ankle reconstruction and was in a castattractive and tasteful healthy food, well trained
and in severe pain. Medication was withheld or errorsstaff, hydration, cleanliness, comfort, recreation
were made. The staff was overworked andtherapy as appropriate, regular medical visits and
underpaid. When I was assertive in requestingsupervision, not to mention respect and kindness.
necessary care some staff embers were passiveCare of the elderly is at the bottom of the priority
aggressive and I was either neglected or punished inlist in the delivery of health care services, is poorly
some way like leaving me on a bedpan for over twomonitored or regulated and it is a national shame.