Daycare for the Old
November 16, 2010
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JOHN P. writes:
There is a flip side to the issue of daycare for the young and that concerns elder care. While old people are not being developmentally warped by state caregivers it is often a cold experience for them, even if they are competent – which is not always the case. I recently elected to live with my mum and provide care to her in her declining years (very daughterly of me!). She did not like the nursing home where she was residing and wanted to live on her own but could not manage it due to her advanced years. She tells me I am the best caregiver she ever had (beaming with pride :)
She is happier now and has much more autonomy than she had before where she had to eat what she was given and have her diaper changed by caregivers who were often rough with her. It’s sad that so many old folks can’t live with their children (or aren’t wanted) because both son/in-law and daughter/in-law are too busy with their careers. That used to be more common and was certainly a more humane way for old folks to decline.
On the subject of daycare, here in Quebec the government heavily subsidises daycare so it only costs $6 CDN a day. If you think the US is bad on these issues, try Quebec. It’s the future of the U.S. if you don’t watch out!
