Lisa Oldfield wants to see the elderly cared for by their loved ones rather than the hospital system.
My grandparents and my mother and father-in-law, whom I love very dearly, have been very sick of late and have relied on care. They’ve lived through the Depression and worked so hard to carry Australia through that era, and war, and we owe them so much, yet I can’t help but feel a lot of their generation are forgotten. You can get all the medical care you need but some people just don’t have the love and support that psychologically helps pull them through illness.
We’re beginning to expect the government to look after us from womb to tomb. But there’s got to be some onus on the individual to look out for people who can’t look out for themselves in order for them to maintain their independence for as long as possible.
We are the first generation of people to not live within the extended family. Fifty years ago, grandparents helped bring up the children, and when they couldn’t look after themselves there were younger generations looking after them.
My husband David and I are building a bigger home and we’ll be 300m down the road from his parents. If they need to be with us there’ll be plenty of room. Even if it’s not family, it’s important to look out for the elderly, even if it’s giving up a seat on a bus. Let’s look out for the elderly neighbour and spend more time with Mum or Dad, to listen to what they’ve got to say and provide them with some comfort.
Do you agree with Lisa? Have your say on the Woman’s Day discussion board.
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