WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE PEOPLE

What a great concept, working together for the good of the people.

I do believe that if our elected leaders in Washington would use this concept as there reasons for representing us the people of America. America would once again truly be the greatest country in the world.

October 1, 2010 was declared as the International Day of Older Persons, a day when we should recognize our older friends and family members for their outstanding abilities, for overcoming many obstacles, and for making it into old age with the potential of living a long and happy life.

Yet along with the day of recognition was also the discussion of elder abuse, neglect and abandonment. An article on www.ElderJusticeNow.org stated that, being treated justly and fairly is a basic human right, yet every year elder abuse leads millions to live in fear.

On October 1, 2010 I attended a meeting where different organization of the in-home care industry was in attendance, there was one common cause that had brought this group of people together “the prevention of elder abuse." I sat in a room with registered nurses, social workers, home care business owners, general manager’s hospice care representatives, and a gentleman whose title is director of government relationship and policy. It suddenly dawned on me that each person participating in the meeting came because of one purpose. They were united together working for the betterment of the older people in our communities, society, and our world.

We all made a conscious decision to work together making changes in our world that will benefit mankind especially the elderly people.

Our American history has always shown us that when people truly work together to help other people there is always a success story to be told.

A Success Story

Most recently I was involved in a conversation with a family who believed that the grandson of their elderly mother was abusing her financially as well as physically, when I suggested to them that they contact Adult Protective Services and file a report so that someone who has the training and the experience in elder abuse could do an investigation into the alleged complaint they all spoke in unison saying,” grandmother would not want her grandson prosecuted even though he was inflicting pain and fear on her.

I then addressed the son of the client (who I will call James) by asking him what were his desires and wishes for his mother as she continues to grow older; James who is the appointed conservator of his mother's estate, as well as her oldest child responded with tears in his eyes, "I just want my mother to live a happy life until the day she dies in peace.” I then ask James what plans he had set in place to be able to accomplish that for his mother; James could not answer that question.

I absolutely understand James’ situation. He did not want to see his family divided by reporting his nephew’s criminal behavior.

That conversation made me step back and look into my own family and ask myself the question what I would do if I was in James’ shoes. The answer was already formulated in my mind, because as a law abiding person I believe that the laws of the land must be enforced and upheld regardless of who the law breaker is.

If we become more concerned about enabling our law breakers then we will end up with criminals who will have no limits or bounds to their criminal activities. Elder abuse is a crime punishable by law; elder abuse can lead to death.

I am happy to say James did contact the police after his mother suffered a so call accident while in the care of her grandson. The grandson was arrested and placed on probation and is presently in therapy, James mother is now safe, and the family is supporting each other.

Are our elderly people disposable? Should we be concern about the well being of an abuser?

Or should we as the younger generation work together for the betterment of all people by stopping the abusers, and protecting those who could be a victim of elder abuse?

We have often herd the word phrase “there are more questions than answers” but in the case of elder abuse there are answers on how to stop the abusers.

I would like to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to those who has dedicated themselves to the prevention of elder abuse, and to those who are looking for a cause to be involved with, the prevention of elder abuse a great cause for everyone to become involved with.

ELDERLY MEANS WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE.