Mahatma Gandhi said: 'A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats it's weakest members.' Unfortunately, we here in Britain seem to have forgotten that some of our weakest members are the elderly. Often lonely and abandoned because they are either too proud or too ill to fight their corner, this vulnerable generation of people have been sidelined because we venerate other causes. Us Britons, we of the charitable, open-handed, humanitarian and philanthropic nature, are not quite so magnanimous when it comes to helping an old and infirm person. Thousands of elderly people are dying alone and there are eight 'lonely' funerals funded by councils for old people who have no friends or family taking place everyday!
My friend Jane was neglected by GPs and social services and by society, yes she had a care package which saw her through a rushed half hour in the morning to get her out of bed, on the toilet and in a chair with a bowl of cereal until the next rushed visit at lunchtime, her day ended with a hasty microwaved meal and being shoved back in bed before 9pm. There was no respect for this woman who had been struck down with a debilitating disease, just hours of loneliness and helplessness, many spent lying on the floor because she had tried to grasp an out of reach remote control or glass of water and had fallen.
The indisputable fact is, hundreds and thousands of elderly people here in Britain are being routinely ill treated by the health service, carers, social services and we citizens generally, we are all complicit in not meeting our obligation to look after our elderly.
The fact that our elderly are dying of neglect in care homes and hospitals has been laid bare. People are not given assistance if they need help eating and there have been cases of elderly people in a 'caring' environment left without food or water which has culminated in their death. Patients are often left soaked in urine or lying in faeces, wounds left open and dressings unchanged. We deride other countries for the way they treat their citizens and welcome refugees with open arms, yet we show appalling and shameful neglect towards our old people.
My friend Jane spent her working life in the care industry and her private life looking after her parents, yet in her hour of need there was nobody to care for her. People aren't so keen to volunteer their services when it comes to helping the aged, perhaps there isn't enough kudos attached, consequently Jane, like many others, spent the last months of her life scared and isolated.
No one should face old age or illness alone, we should all be a source of support to our elderly and vulnerable, a friendly face, a cup of tea and a chat, anything that reduces loneliness, and if you have a spare bedroom.........
I didn't do enough for Jane but I'm more aware of my elderly neighbours since her death, I have decided to make a cake once a week and share a slice with those that might enjoy a bit of company, as my mum used to say: 'The world can always be set right again by small acts of kindness rather than grand gestures!'
Butterscotch Brownies
Recipe
200g butter
200g butterscotch chocolate, roughly chopped (I used Green and Blacks)
350g caster sugar
40g cocoa powder
100g plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 eggs, lightly beaten
3 medium squares of fudge, roughly chopped
Preheat oven 180c-gas 4
Line a 22cm tray with baking powder
Melt the butter and chocolate in a bain marie
Put the sugar, cocoa powder, flour and baking powder into a bowl, stir to combine
Stir in the eggs and the melted chocolate, fold through the fudge pieces
Tip batter into a tin and bake for 35-40 minutes
Remove from tray and allow to cool slightly before cutting into squares
I'm sure this post will cause some controversy, however, ask yourself, when did you last check to see if an elderly neighbour is ok? Have you ever volunteered to visit a dementia ward or care home for a couple of hours a week? I applaud the fact that we are inviting victims from other countries, we're 'caring' it's what we do, but we can't ignore the fact that our 'care' doesn't extend to our own elderly!
'You must be the change you wish to see in the world.'
- Mahatma Gandhi
Love Donna xxxxxxx
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