Preface: I recently read an article that was in my Lancaster newspaper that was written by Robert Olson who is a pastoral counselor and family therapist who specializes in geriatric issues. I found it very interesting, especially since I fit into the mold of the person whom he was writing about. Much of what he wrote I have included in my story for today. I wish that he had a solution for what he wrote about, but that isn't going to happen any time soon, I suspect. Read on and see if you agree or don't agree with what he wrote and what I have added to his story. Hopefully an answer can be reached in the next few years or perhaps generations.
It was an ordinary day. Reading one of many articles I have printed from various sources and had hoped to use at one time or another for a story on this site. One such article was titled "The Old in The Tribe." Has to do with the "old" people in the tribe being venerated, respected and esteemed. They were considered to be the "Wise Ones" in the tribe, capable of setting the standards of the tribe as well as the rules to be followed by all in the tribe. Perhaps it may have been a group of elders who were the "tribal counsel" who would set the rules of conduct to be followed by the rest in the tribe. The life of the elder was considered a sacred testimony to what God intended human life to be, and the elder set the standards for living an extraordinary life. As years go by, you would expect this process to be carried on throughout generations, but attitudes seem to have changed in America as compared to other areas of the globe. Respect for elders seems to have waned with thousands of cases of elder abuse being reported throughout America. Entire families have attempted to cheat elderly family members out of property and money, or have made disparaging remarks regarding the elder's welfare. Two years ago a professor at a West Coast college stated to his students that he thought individuals over the age of 75 needed to be euthanized because they were of no benefit any longer to society and would eventually bankrupt the Social Security and health care systems. I'm sure he isn't the only one with the same thoughts. It is true that people work hard their entire life to spend and fill their homes and garages with the latest technical inventions, and when they become elderly, no longer have the resources to spend. They sometimes become a burden rather than a benefit to our society, since they can no longer support the economy. The elderly then become "invisible" and somewhat forgotten in the family. Did you know that about 80% of the 600,000 U.S. deaths from COVID-19 were over the age of 65. Most were in nursing homes or stuck in a single-family dwelling with small children and no privacy to call their own. Their families were ill-prepared to care for them. It is well-known that with current medicine and new procedures, the elderly will live significantly longer. Today there are close to 100,000 centenarians living in the United States and this number will most certainly grow over time. Where will all these people go? As for my wife and myself, we have plans to retire into a retirement community that supplies health care until death. But, what about all those who can't afford that care. Will family tend to them until death? My guess is...Most won't! Will the government tend to them. You got to be kidding! Perhaps the elder community needs to help itself if no one else will do so. Just as the elders of the tribe did years ago, they need to be part of the educational, emotional and spiritual everyday functioning of their lives. But, how can they do that? They need to bond together and ask for help from those that possess the necessary wisdom to supply the aide. I read that there needs to be a professional, educational business to teach elders how to care for and support each other. It needs to be backed by elders who can model the program after the teaching of Jesus where love is taught as being unconditional, were nonviolence is practiced, where physical care along with ongoing emotional and spiritual support is taught and demonstrated. Is the religious community ready to aide the aging in the community and if not, who would be willing help? It needs to be sooner than later! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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