Church Rorts now

Originally posted by moorookamick: ↑

Hi pintohoo,
I visit a relative in an aged care facility frequently and up to 2 years ago I visited my
next door neighbour of 33 years daily in aged care a cut lunch away.

From that limited experience (both aged care facilities are publicly listed corporations)
I can honestly say that they are depressing places to visit because most residents are sitting there
with that 1000 yards stare probably doped up to the eyeballs to stave off depression.

This is a horrible way for anyone to spend the last years of their lives, IMO , and
its no wonder that many suicide rather than endure the social isolation and the
abysmal stripping of their identity not to mention their sense of dignity.

https://theconversation.com/too-many-australians-living-in-nursing-homes-take-their-own-lives-92112

This "Battery Hen" form of existence is an indictment on family life and our sense of community, IMO.

This is why I think small community aged care facilities that afford the aged person to remain in their community
attached to friends and neighbours and not stripped of the symbols of self including house in the interests of
institutional efficiency, profit & inheritance.

We got rid of mental institutions years ago but we have inadvertently replaced them with aged care institutions
which over time induce mental illness.

There is much ado about the Covid lock down induced mental illness but imagine if you were confronted
with that type of "lock down" for the rest of your natural life with a death every few weeks.....how would you be...eh?

My relative commented last week:

"I don't want to make any more friends in here because the last two died"

What do you say.....eh?

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"This is why I think small community aged care facilities ". ...... excellent suggestion.... I'm sure many who are getting close to the degree of dependence on others to manage would prefer something like a 6 bed unit and all that smaller units can offer to a production line number in much larger facilities.

but don't imagine for a minute that either side Govt would ever agree to such an expensive option when they can save much more in the current system.

in the 90s there were several trials modelled on the mental health deinstitutionalisation push. there were some real innovations including colour coding doors, furnishings and garden access. Since then we've had the NDIS developments which has broadened deinstitutionalisation to all disability except aged care.

If they can do this for younger people why then not for aged clients.