Spent much of today at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth. The subject under discussion was 'Living with a Stoma'. Regular visitors will know that I acquired one myself 5 years ago, when my internal drainage system had to be re-designed to accommodate the removal of a cancerous tumour as well as what my surgeon delicately referred to as my 'bottom'. I'm very open about this, because I want people to be aware of the symptoms, and to realise that its possible to live a full and active life after such radical surgery - if its caught in time of course. I offer myself as a living example. Anyway, there was a story teller, named Jim Wingate there as well. I liked one of his stories - about three generations living in the same house.
Granny's house had been passed over to her daughter and son-in-law, but she was still living with the two of them and their young daughter. (Perhaps they were trying to avoid Inheritance Tax). Granny grew old and started dribbling and making ugly noises as she was eating her food. The parents forgot that Granny had given them her house and forced her to eat alone in a distant corner out of her own bowl, and out of their sight and hearing. Granny became withdrawn and very unhappy. One day the parents noticed their little girl trying to cut up a block of wood with her dinner knife. When they asked her what she was doing, the little girl said she was carving two wooden bowls for them when they were as old as Granny.
2 comments:
That's an 'oldie' story - has done the rounds.
You are absolutely right Glyn, elder abuse (as they call it here in the USA) is a very serious and tragic issue. It is an area of law that I almost (and still might) take up, I get very upset when I hear about it, so maybe it's not a good area for me to be in.
But anyone getting up in years should think about setting up various trusts that ensure they are taken care of regardless of who ends up looking after them. Obviously a trust that pays out good money for upkeep for the senior while they remain alive and kicking on terra-firma and the residual of the trust/estate to be paid to a neutral charity upon death would go someway to making sure that children are more inclined to keep mum and dad in good working order. It used to puzzle me why seniors continue to live in one room in their large family home, which they are unable to upkeep and which is costly to heat or a/c ...
Story teller said it was centuries old and he thought originated in Finland. I liked this one because of my involvement with a company spewcialising in the care of old people.
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