by B Borcyk

Created on: December 11, 2010

Today, one of the biggest healthcare disputes remains between those who believe that we should follow tradition and families should be responsible for the care for their elderly versus those who feel that healthcare facilities are specially trained to care for these individuals. The problem is that the overall situation has changed so much that it is not always possible for the average American family to care for the older members of their family.

Traditionally, even in America, extended families lived together in one household. The divorce rate at the time was not even discussed among society, because most of America was religious, and divorce was considered morally wrong. Families took care of one another, because the women of the household stayed home and raised the children, cooked the meals, and had the time while the men were out working to support the rest of the family. The families were tight-knit, and they needed each other.

Fast-forward to 2010, and men and women are now almost required to work outside of the home, often with multiple jobs. It is not unheard of for children to be raised by another individual who also has to make a living. Families have their own homes now, separate from their extended families. Individual family members are so independent today that they now each have their own cell phone, their own television, and even their own car.

These role changes in family members have made it extremely difficult for the elderly. As their bodies and minds slowly change, and their pain tolerance increases due to chronic health issues, they are unsure of who will be there for them. While they prefer family members, they struggle with the mindset that they are a burden to others. This feeling of being a burden is the reason that depression is so onset amongst the older generations.

Imagine being an older individual who most likely grew up in a huge household with parents, grandparents, children, and perhaps even aunts and uncles. Throughout life, things changed so quickly that their own children moved out of their home and away in order to have their own rules and way of life. Then, instead of looking forward to spending the end portion of their life with their own flesh and blood, they are faced with the possibility of dying alone in a nursing home.

It is understandable in a sense that a person’s illness is so involved that it literally requires skilled nursing to the point that a family cannot oversee that individual. For example, if

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>