By Maria Celeste Raposo,
Sociologist
This is a very interesting
matter and certainly a hot one for discussion. I have been studying this matter
for about 8 years and here are my conclusions :
–
I don’t agree with a simple staying-in place, because :
- If one grows over 85,
it’s very common not having relatives and having lost their best friends or,
at least, being unable to meet them, due to several disabilities. They can
hardly contact by phone. So, there is a need to establish new relationships
and look for a friendly and protecting neighbourhood. - The old neighbours either
moved or died. Usually older people live exactly in the older and sometimes
more derelict parts of the cities, far from the new generations, that have
chosen new places, where the offer for new and comfortable houses is bigger.
So, they tend to become isolated, exactly because they live in older parts
of their towns or cities. Cities and city centers do change, and if people
don’t, they become isolated and the worst of all, subject to hostile or dangerous
environment. - The help that can be
given by caring centers who visit them at their homes, supplying meals and
some other services, like helping to wash if needed , is difficult, expensive,
for the welfare states and very limited. Those caring people have many houses
to visit and a very short time to do it. So, what they in fact do, is feeding
the poor fellows more or less as if they are some esteemed pets. - Over 65s prefer to stay
at their homes as long as they can, but they have to understand that, probably,
they must change home, to be able to receive the help that they know they
will need if they live longer. - If they belong to an
association and live in their homes, but near to other people of the same
age or similar, they have much more possibilities of getting involved with
community affairs and of joining forces to overcome some difficulties –
they usually have lost social power, but when together, they help themselves
to reach those still in power, because someone among them, was a teacher or
is a grandfather or a friend, of someone younger and able to decide something.
- So, they want to keep
their homes (although accepting that these will be simpler and smaller), they
want to keep their autonomy for as long as possible, but they need to live
near other fellows who have the same needs and they need to be associated.
- Just remember the recent
case of the 104 years old millionaire Brooke Astor, who became a scandal of
isolation and bad treatment – it’s not only a question of money, but
a real human rights or exclusion problem. The only possible protection comes
from association. - Governments seem to
be very interested in stimulating the simple living-in. Probably it looks
as the most economic solution, but in fact, the most economic way is to keep
people happy and, as a result, also healthy.
Ideal solutions do not
exist but better ones do.
By Maria Celeste Raposo,
Sociologist
;
;
;