Being at the circle's closing with anything else than peace, is sad.
That feeling of depending on others and being abused by them, must be much heavier than sadness.
I remember how blessed we felt as a family by the fact that we took care of my grandmother until her peaceful death. She offered so much. We couldn't take the risk of putting her in a facility, but of course, many people have no choice.
This one has stayed with me since the first time I read it, Edward. It's so horrible what some elderly endure. It breaks my heart. Your words depict every fear about getting old and left in care.
Edward, your poetry is truth. I'm on the cusp of the reality that both my mum and dad will need more care than I can provide. It's a frightening prospect, even having worked in this field for a few decades.
It’s horrible what seniors go through in many of these homes. My grandmother is now reaching the stage of life where she needs around the clock care, she’s currently living with my uncle and his family. They can’t be around for the amount of time that she needs, and I’m not sure how good the care home is. I can only hope that she receives decent care.
The memories of my father being mistreated, not cared for properly, and leaving my family feel that no one cares creeped up with anger and pain. We moved him 3 times to find a home that would care for him properly as his brain deteriorated rapidly.
He was a venerated and benevolent man who advocated for international students, created connections from across the seas, and mentored his students not only in class, but in life… only to be treated as though his entire life and passion was all in vain? Falls, bruises, bed sores, and cellulitis. Sepsis from untreated infections almost taking his life twice.
He was a Doctor of Philosophy and History professor at St. John’s University in MN and Professor Emeritus at Bunkyo-Gaukin University in Tokyo, Japan - a country that respects their elders in a higher level than anyone because of the lives they lived, the wisdom they gained, and the experiences they shared. The cultural divide was starkly evident as he lay dying amongst those who didn’t care. He deserved esteem and respect, dignity and honor and didn’t receive it.
All elderly deserve it. They lived a whole life and impacted the world with their being… and it should be celebrated as they prepare to leave this world behind, not made to feel as though their life didn’t matter.
Every time you (beautifully, viscerally) take us through their experiences, I feel like if I can't bear it for a few minutes, how does reality work for them, day after day...
Thank you for sharing these poems, everyone needs to read them.
I’ve seen residents develop oral infections from poor oral care (nobody brushes their gums with toothettes, nobody cleans their dentures) and they develop sepsis and pass away.
Aged care in Australia is a hell unlike nothing else.
I have friends with elderly family in nursing homes and they tell me such horrifying stories. Bedbugs, verbal abuse, meals that consist of a plate of plain lettuce. Employees looking up instructions for medical procedures on Google. They are reported, people get fired, but others come in and do the same. I am sure there are kind, loving people who work with the elderly but we never hear about them - the abuse is too rampant.
Oral care is another shocker. I did care auditing for mouth and denture care and 90% of residents at a former workplace hadn’t had a mouth toilet or their dentures removed and soaked on any given night.
HOW can you settle an elderly person into bed without cleaning their mouth/teeth?!?!
That is so disgusting - I know it must not be the high point of a caregiver’s day, but it is necessary and when you go into the job, you know it. So heartless.
My day job is investigating elder abuse and neglect. Today, our federal government is making moves to decimate the programs that are crucial for elders to thrive at home. More than that, Trump wants to steal the social security income and Medicare that we've all paid into our entire lives. This cannot be allowed and I'm disgusted that people actually voted to be robbed, to be left out on the ice to die.
We used to have ratios of 15:3 (residents to nurses) and legislation was passed by our then center-left government to abolish ratios and leave it up to facility managers to determine the appropriate staffing levels.
We also had a Royal Commission, instigated by our then center-right government, which ran for four years. Only a handful of recommendations from experts were enacted.
I've never seen the sector in such a poor state, I imagine it's getting worse across the globe.
Being at the circle's closing with anything else than peace, is sad.
That feeling of depending on others and being abused by them, must be much heavier than sadness.
I remember how blessed we felt as a family by the fact that we took care of my grandmother until her peaceful death. She offered so much. We couldn't take the risk of putting her in a facility, but of course, many people have no choice.
Oh you and your family are such angels for doing this!!!
She would’ve been cushioned between bliss and tranquility, every elder deserves this.
Yep, some ppl have no choice, and aged care facilities prey on this in their marketing.
This one has stayed with me since the first time I read it, Edward. It's so horrible what some elderly endure. It breaks my heart. Your words depict every fear about getting old and left in care.
Thank you, sweet Marce.
Imagine if our government allocated more tax dollars to aged care, and legislated like they should.
The elderly could live out their days in bliss.
A beautiful pipedream… xxx
Edward, your poetry is truth. I'm on the cusp of the reality that both my mum and dad will need more care than I can provide. It's a frightening prospect, even having worked in this field for a few decades.
We know the truth, dear Silva.
You can't do it all, if they need more care then you're left with no other alternative but aged care facilities. It's an abominable position to be in.
Elder abuse is just heartbreaking and goes unnoticed most of the time because people don't think about it. Thank you for sharing
If only every citizen volunteered at an aged care facility for one day a year = their eyes would open.
Thank you so much for reading, A.J.
It’s horrible what seniors go through in many of these homes. My grandmother is now reaching the stage of life where she needs around the clock care, she’s currently living with my uncle and his family. They can’t be around for the amount of time that she needs, and I’m not sure how good the care home is. I can only hope that she receives decent care.
I've read about your grandmother's plight over on the Voldemort platform, Lysergic.
A care home is only as good as the night staff, it is the longest shift, and it's where most of the care lapses thrive.
I’m not on Voldemort, is someone posing as me?
Hahahaha, that’s awesome.
Voldemort is what I call the other platform, lol.
I barely made it through the fall without tears 💔
The memories of my father being mistreated, not cared for properly, and leaving my family feel that no one cares creeped up with anger and pain. We moved him 3 times to find a home that would care for him properly as his brain deteriorated rapidly.
He was a venerated and benevolent man who advocated for international students, created connections from across the seas, and mentored his students not only in class, but in life… only to be treated as though his entire life and passion was all in vain? Falls, bruises, bed sores, and cellulitis. Sepsis from untreated infections almost taking his life twice.
He was a Doctor of Philosophy and History professor at St. John’s University in MN and Professor Emeritus at Bunkyo-Gaukin University in Tokyo, Japan - a country that respects their elders in a higher level than anyone because of the lives they lived, the wisdom they gained, and the experiences they shared. The cultural divide was starkly evident as he lay dying amongst those who didn’t care. He deserved esteem and respect, dignity and honor and didn’t receive it.
All elderly deserve it. They lived a whole life and impacted the world with their being… and it should be celebrated as they prepare to leave this world behind, not made to feel as though their life didn’t matter.
I once cared for a former federal government minister, she was also a doctor before she entered politics.
Imagine the lives she saved in her first vocation, and the great changes she made as a parliamentarian? Only to be forgotten and discarded like waste.
She died with no family by her side, only 2 nurses who barely knew her.
Every time you (beautifully, viscerally) take us through their experiences, I feel like if I can't bear it for a few minutes, how does reality work for them, day after day...
Thank you for sharing these poems, everyone needs to read them.
They’re not easy reads (or writes) yet you’re right, everyone needs to read them.
You’ve read so many over on Voldemort, idk how you managed it ha ha.
Thank you for the support, my dear. Where’s your latest Substack stuff? I want MORE DEBDUTTA ON STACK.
I’m starting a petition on Change.Org.
Cool, I'll sign it. 😁
These are power poems...thank you for writing them. These are things not talked often enough, loud enough. And the reading was wonderful too.
The elderly are out of sight, out of mind for many.
Thank you for reading, dear Rajani.
I'm SO glad somebody wrote a poem about elder abuse. A horrific tragedy of our time
Thank you. I’ve written quite a few for other platforms, it is the abomination of our time, 100% agree.
Horrible conditions, I can’t believe it. Love that the reading of your awesome poetry sounds exactly how I imagined it would!
I’ve seen residents develop oral infections from poor oral care (nobody brushes their gums with toothettes, nobody cleans their dentures) and they develop sepsis and pass away.
Aged care in Australia is a hell unlike nothing else.
Both were very powerful.
Thank you so much, Oli.
I have friends with elderly family in nursing homes and they tell me such horrifying stories. Bedbugs, verbal abuse, meals that consist of a plate of plain lettuce. Employees looking up instructions for medical procedures on Google. They are reported, people get fired, but others come in and do the same. I am sure there are kind, loving people who work with the elderly but we never hear about them - the abuse is too rampant.
Oral care is another shocker. I did care auditing for mouth and denture care and 90% of residents at a former workplace hadn’t had a mouth toilet or their dentures removed and soaked on any given night.
HOW can you settle an elderly person into bed without cleaning their mouth/teeth?!?!
That is so disgusting - I know it must not be the high point of a caregiver’s day, but it is necessary and when you go into the job, you know it. So heartless.
My day job is investigating elder abuse and neglect. Today, our federal government is making moves to decimate the programs that are crucial for elders to thrive at home. More than that, Trump wants to steal the social security income and Medicare that we've all paid into our entire lives. This cannot be allowed and I'm disgusted that people actually voted to be robbed, to be left out on the ice to die.
Down under it makes no difference who we vote for, our elderly suffer regardless.
We used to have ratios of 15:3 (residents to nurses) and legislation was passed by our then center-left government to abolish ratios and leave it up to facility managers to determine the appropriate staffing levels.
We also had a Royal Commission, instigated by our then center-right government, which ran for four years. Only a handful of recommendations from experts were enacted.
I've never seen the sector in such a poor state, I imagine it's getting worse across the globe.