The Courier Mail today ran a story about the poor standards of some nursing homes in Queensland - I am sure the same could be said for nursing homes across Australia. It is appalling. I have been incensed that our governments spend so much money on education, and totally neglect the older members of our communities. It has been something that I have been talking about for a long time - it is hard. It is hard because one doesn't know that the conditions of your family member is mirrored elsewhere.
Someone suggested we move our mother. What? Despite what we see as her neglect, SHE is somewhat happy and doesn't want another move. We have already moved her in a failed attempt to find better. It was better - but that was in the early days. Family members do fear speaking up lest their relative is badly treated as a result. Staff often do their best - but there is often a lack of training, a lack of staff, a lack of good direction from their superiors and cutting costs at all levels.
Read the article here.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/how-aged-care-fails-the-test/comments-e6freon6-1226212749037
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Planning one's death
We are all going to die (pass away, kark it, come to the end of our lives) but it is a topic that we are not comfortable talking about in Australia. If you try to raise the subject with your own children, often they are loath to get into the discussion, as if they do not wish to accept that their seemingly fit and healthy parent/s will somehow no longer be alive on this earth. It is very difficult to raise the subject with one's ageing parents too. Especially as it often starts with "Have you made out a Will?" which might suggest that the person asking is hoping to be the benefactor of one's estate.
The reality is that we can die at any time - yes, even young people die. We should all - well, at least all adults - should make some plans. Everyone!
Yesterday I attended a Parliamentary Committee - a forum where the Parliamentary Committee members listened to what a large number of people with interest in Guardianship Laws - part of the Queensland state Law Reform Commission inquiry.
There were several topics on the table in relation to end of life decisions. One of the participants, a youngish lady with an illness (even if I did remember I would not write it here) but she has a debilitating illness that has killed several members of her family, and when we saw her walk, we could see some of the challenges she lives with. Clearly she wants euthanasia in Australia - and stated that she would go overseas to fulfill her wish, if it was not law in Australia when she felt ready to go.
There was much discussion about Advanced Health Directives - and each state of Australia seems to have a slightly different process. I printed out Queensland's form last night and will set out to complete it over the next few days, and it will go, with other documents, into a file which I will give to a family member. It will be ready when it is needed.
Any Queenslanders looking for the document can click here - Qld Department of Justice document. Read it thoroughly, and print it (about 24 pages) but you can purchase it at some newsagents and other places, and start to fill it out. You will need to take it to your doctor for him/her to fill out a section.
Discuss it with your children, and other members of the family. Let them know what your wishes are should you be incapable of making a decision about your health and make sure they are aware of the storage place of your documents.
There are many documents that you will need to collate - but start with these
- Your last Will and Testament
- Your Advanced Life Directive
- Details about your assets
- A list of some of your favourite things (I'll explain that later)
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