Malaysia, care of the aged

This is a video showing how, with all the changes in society in Malaysia, no provisions have been made for the care of the aged, as families are increasingly unable or unwilling to care for their geriatric members.  This video is in German language.  It really makes one think about many things more deeply.  It will make an impression even without the words.  Elderly have been abandoned to themselves, to hospitals, to the care of strangers who out of the goodness of their hearts put them all together in one big room to help each other best they can (which is not very good).

One thing that resonates with me is the parallel to grief.  In some ways, grief isolates you like these elderly are abandoned and isolated.  Who wants to talk with you about your loss, your loneliness, your pain? What happened to family and friends?  How did you get into this prison of abandonment or frozen incompetence?  -- I know all this, and still, I too, don't want to hear all about someone else's grief, the never-ending, old stories of those who have nothing else going on in their lives.  It is no joke that the commandments about loving people is at the first about honoring your parents before all the other commandments.

http://www.tagesschau.de/multimedia/video/video1307670.html

Susanna

We fixed Susanna's teeth.

She must be nearly one hundred. She is proud of having all her own teeth. She is on oxygen for her emphysema. She could barely breath, or sit back, or hear, or keep warm, or talk.

But she has this sense of humor. She was still trying to tell us jokes. She also thought she might "kick the bucket" before her next appointment. She was not sure she would see us again. Martin told her we would see each other in another place then. She said, yes, and her teeth won't need fixing.

more on aging--resources

This "visitation" book is a new item available at Concordia Publishing House. It deals with difficult situations head-on using devotions, psalms, hymns, and prayers. It is meant for pastors, caregivers and regular hospital visitors. It nowhere beats around the bush or prettifies problems.

Getting older and sick, or being alone or hospitalized can be very trying times. Just as I listed the comments about my sagging face in the last post, aging and illness can be extremely humbling. You become marginalized, less visible. Maybe soon someone will think you should chose to euthanize, since you are only a burden. What a psychological mill stone!

We must at every opportunity show care and respect to individuals who are getting older or suffering. This can be very challenging, as people become mentally ill and demented with greater frequency with advancing age.

I like the introduction to the resources on aging in the "visitation" book, quoted for you here:

Growing old brings us closer to our death and closer to God. But many who are elderly experience severe depression because of the loss of spouse or loneliness from living alone or the fear of physical suffering or even death itself. The elderly need the compassion of others who, by their presence, embody Christ for them.

After that it suggests Psalms 90, 39, 71, 73, 26; 2 Cor.5: 1-4, Isaiah 46:4; it gives a number of prayers and hymns.

What comfort in the word of God! How would one try to comfort someone without it? One would hope just in medical and beauty treatments--which can only go so far and will completely fail at some point.

I got an extra copy for Kathy who works in geriatrics.

Dentistry and Geriatrics

The current CDAA (Canadian Dental Assistant's Association) magazine edition focuses entirely on dental care for the elderly. This,indeed, highlights a timely topic. More individuals will be in various types of facilities in the future and their dental health should not be neglected, both from the standpoint of standard hygiene care, as well as diagnosis and treatment of problems. These problems vary from caries, periodontal disease, taking care of prostheses and making sure that they fit well, diagnosing cancer and infections.

Maintaining oral function and esthetics adds significantly to the quality of life of the elderly, not to mention the implications for systemic health. Oral disease should not be ignored, as the discomfort can be tremendous and elderly cannot always communicate appropriately. Dementia patients especially require extra help and awareness from their caregivers.

In the province of Saskatchewan,legislation is being enacted that will allow dental assistants to work in elder facilities without the immediate supervision of the dentist. This should be happening in all provinces to help maintain oral health in institutional settings.

Regular hospitals and intensive care units should also consider utilizing dental assitants. We have seen patients that were released from hospital, where they were unconscious, and found afterward that their dentition suffered most significantly. This is an unacceptable and most unfortunate result of hospitalization and a great source of anger and resultant hardships.

The picture above shows the dentition of an elderly person with a healthy dentition. The recession is significant, but the teeth are firm and clean. As we get older, there will be many changes, not all of them positive. Keeping your teeth, even as in the picture above, would be a blessing.