Signs of Decay, of Growing Old

Ever notice how strong the perfume or cologne, scent is from older people?

As kids we called it the ' old person smell ' and used to be a joke, but the truth is, it isn't vanity or forgetfulness, that makes older people use more cologne, perfumes. It is the sign of old age, being masked.

Older people are trying to hold on, to their dignity and so they use more perfumes, colognes, not to appear to smell nice, but to hide the scent of their body, losing control. See, they lose muscle control, bladder & bowel control, and it is their way of covering that up, or trying to.

Sure its a tell tale sign of something, but most ignore it, and chalk it up to Grandma forgetting how much perfume to use, or Grandpa adding too much of that strong after shave, because his hand shakes a bit.

Truth is, they are simply trying to spell us from the real scent, that seems to hang over them, 24/7. The scent of a body in decay, of a time passing, when they could easily make it to the toilet, to when they could jump out of bed and into the shower, to erase the night's smells.

That old person smell, is of death, knocking persistently on the front door.

Give Him What He Wants

That seems to have been the message sent out, to VIHA & Beacon from my complaint at the end of August to my MLA. Not sure, but while it is a guess, it is strange that VIHA called Tuesday to set up the meeting, and that it was held on Thursday. Stranger is that in my follow up to the MLA assistant, they knew all about the meeting, and believed the issue was closed.

Now I don't know, but my issue wasn't just about mom's care, but about all those others, who have no advocate like Mom. Seems they figured that if they give me what I want, that I'll forget about my complaint, and insistence on an investigation into how Beacon got the contract, or in how VIHA monitors such outsourcing.

They are totally wrong.

Just Words

After meeting with VIHA & Beacon Community Services people last Thursday, they were accommodating, but the choice of words used, has left a lasting impression, that frankly isn't a positive. Seriously, the words one uses in front of old people, is important.

They do latch onto words, that you and I might simply let roll off our backs, but they won't. Words like "burden" or "chore" becomes a nightmare to deal with, because they do harp on it, they do let it eat at them, and can impact their calls for help. It can make them shy, or quiet, about asking for help.

So no, they aren't 'just words', and that is something THEY should know, or be aware of, don't you think? Least if they truly did care about the people in their care.

Does the Patient Count?

You have to wonder, whatever happened to simple caring for people who are elderly, and in need of support? Whatever happened to basic human compassion for those who have spent their life building a nation, whether as pioneers or as simply citizens, who abide by the laws of society?

When did we decide to treat them like so much excess baggage, instead of as human beings?

In dealing with Beacon Community Services and the Vancouver Island Health Authority, it makes me wonder, if somehow Vancouver Island didn't suddenly become part of the United States health system. You know, the one where it is survival of the richest, not those in need?

Given the intimidation factor used yesterday, it seems to me that we have lost our way, as human beings, because we are so consumed by the almighty dollar. While I know that it is idealistic, to want to provide proper qualified health care to everyone in need, that it is idealistic to assume that many won't take advantage of free health care, it still seems WRONG to be making money out of the suffering of others, elderly or not.

I know costs are high, that it takes a lot of resourcs to properly maintain a national health system, but I also know that if we don't, we lose productivety in the workforce, and we wind up with even greater health costs. That is a reality of life, yet somehow, it seems business & government, have chosen to ignore that reality.

What kind of society are we, when we place the needs of business profits, over the type of care being given to our senior citizens? What does that really say about our values, our ethics?