A LETTER WRITTEN BY ONE OF THE MANY WOMEN WHO HAS BEEN LOCKED UP IN AN NURSING HOME AGAINST HER WILL.
“This letter is the balance sheet of my life. I am 82 years old, I have 4 children, 11 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, and a 12 m² room.
I no longer have a home or loved things, but I have someone to tidy my room, make me food and make my bed, check my blood pressure, and weigh me. I no longer have the laughter of grandchildren, I no longer see them growing up, hugging and arguing; some of them come to see me every two weeks; some every three or four months; some never.
I no longer make croquettes or deviled eggs or mince rolls.
“I don’t know how long I have left, but I have to get used to this loneliness; I do occupational therapy and help those who are worse off than me in any way I can, even if I don’t want to get too attached to them. They say life is longer. When I’m lonely I can look at my family photos and a few memories I brought from home.
I hope that future generations will understand that family is built for a tomorrow (with children) and to repay our parents for the time they gave us to grow up.”
Another issue with nursing homes is that residents do not have the same level of autonomy that they would have if they lived in their own houses. This may make your elderly parents feel much older and more helpless than they really are. It is not always easy for folks to adapt to the schedules that are in place at nursing facilities, especially when these plans are frequently quite stringent.
The likelihood of receiving substandard treatment is yet another disadvantage associated with nursing homes. Throughout the years, there have been a lot of horrifying reports coming from nursing facilities, including allegations of abuse and neglect. Even though there are a lot of reputable hospitals out there that offer quality treatment, it’s still crucial to do your homework before choosing one.
