The Full Circle of Care: Protecting the Family Includes Protecting Our Elderls
Lately, there has been a lot of focus on supporting families and Christian values, especially around topics like sexuality, abortion, sexual trafficking, and education. However, we should also remember that caring for families means protecting our elderly from harmful practices like assisted suicide and widespread institutional care.
Older generations often face many challenges and get little support. Sometimes, they are seen as burdens or are forgotten. Legalizing euthanasia can make things worse for them, but the most common problem is that more older people are being sent to nursing homes.
This does not mean nursing homes are not important or needed. Sometimes, they are the only choice for elders who are very sick, either mentally or physically. Most families are not able to care for parents with serious disabilities or memory problems. For example, someone with Alzheimer’s may get better care in assisted living, where they have access to the right resources. Still, not every elder needs to be in assisted living. Whenever possible, nursing homes should be a last option, not the first.
Nursing homes come with many risks, including different types of abuse like neglect, sexual assault, and financial exploitation. Being in institutional care can also hurt the emotional and mental health of older people. Life in a nursing home is often restrictive, and many residents feel they have lost their independence. It is common to see patients whose families never visit, which is a serious problem. Some elderly people are left in these homes and rarely hear from their families again. Health providers can sometimes make this worse. The WHO has said this is the most common type of abuse in nursing homes. Another study by the PMC found that in 2011, 7.7 million Americans aged 65 and older were considered “socially isolated,” and 1.3 million were “severely isolated.” All of these people lived in assisted living homes.
Another risk in nursing homes is physical abuse. NursingHomeAbuse.org reports that the National Center for Victims of Crime found physical abuse in nursing homes rose by 75% for men and 35% for women between 2016 and 2022. The WHO says this abuse can happen when staff are not well-trained or when there are not enough workers. When staff are overwhelmed, they may take out their stress on patients. Not having enough staff also means hiring standards drop, which can let abusers get jobs in these places. Some of these workers may not have proper training. Elderly patients are especially at risk because they may not understand what is happening or be able to speak up for themselves.
With all these challenges, it is not surprising that loneliness is rising among older people. They should not have to deal with these problems after a lifetime of hard work. That is why caring for elderly family members at home should be more common and encouraged. It can feel overwhelming to care for a loved one, but programs like Medicaid can help cover many medical needs and reduce stress.
We need to focus more on caring for family members of all ages. This care should not only be for children, pregnant mothers, or unborn babies. Our elderly are also vulnerable and often cannot speak up for themselves. Society needs a renewed commitment to family values, especially for older adults. If we support Christianity and pro-life beliefs, we must include everyone, regardless of age or health.