I haven't lost sight of the bigger picture. Disaster in Haiti and the sight of people's terrible tragedies renders everything else a little insignificant.
Personal loss, if not national catastrophe, is something we all have to face . And when it is one's immediate family in trouble then external events must fade into the baclground for a while.
My interest in local and national politics hs been dimmed for the moment by trying to come to terms with my dad's growing frailty. Two years ago, at 87, he could still walk down to the pub for a sizeable pub lunch, enjoy a few pints, and entertain regulars with Irish rebel songs. He defied the laws of gravity. I suppose we thought that would go on for ever.
But at the moment he's in hospital suffering from what can only be described as self-neglect. And it has taken days of wrangling with the hospital to stop them discharging him and take on board the fact his food intake needs constant monitoring.
Like most men of his generation, he's a tough old bird who does not want to accept he needs help. It's the job of me and my sister to persuade him the point has been reached when he needs others to intervene - and make the most of the facilities on offer . But it is a rough road for all of us.
On Friday, despite our entreaties , the hospital chose to send him home. Less than 24 hours later, I was in an ambulance with him . I have to say the compassion and care shown by NHS staff is something which never ceases to fill me with pride about our health system.
But the kind of care my dad now needs won't be provided in a hospital.
As people continue to live longer and longer we need to look at how we can give our very old people - which will be all of us one day - the care and dignity they need in their final years.
I take heart, despite being desperately worried, in the fact that as we waited in Casualty my dad was still demanding his Brylcreem so he could look his best. And cracking jokes with the nurses. The end, I hope, is not imminent. But facing life's realities is something all of us in our middle years sadly have to do.
Sunday, 24 January 2010
HELP FOR THE AGED
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3 comments:
It is difficult. All I would say is stand your ground as there is help available but like all things in these penny pinching times, if you are prepared to do it yourself then often things your Dad is entitled to may not be offered.
The care my mother receives is very good but the main reason she gets it, and free of charge, is that she refused to go into hospital voluntarily and had to be sectioned for her own safety. It wasn't a pleasant thing to have to do but paradoxically it was the best thing which could have happened
One fir yer da'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORifieiZiP4
Thanks, the tale of Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley gives us all hope for the future.
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