Few decades back, the word dementia, organic cerebral disease, a condition of permanent mental deterioration, was hardly mentioned, not even in GP surgery. Now there are just under nine hundred thousand people officially diagnosed as victim of this dreadful illness that turns people to vegetable state. Many sufferers are waiting to be officially diagnosed, as demand is great and resources limited due to financial constrain inflicted on the nation by bleeding heart politicians.
Even though vast amount of resources are deployed in research to find cure, condition is on the rise. The medical reasons that are allegedly responsible for this dreaded illness are vast and varied, including low blood supply to brain, increase in life expectancy, improved diagnosis and according to latest research in America, loneliness, cut-off from family members and friends, all contribute to the spread of this condition. These are symptoms of what we call modern, independent life-style.
At one time, family life, two or even three generations living under one roof was the norm. Now it is rarity, children moving out as soon as they get married, moving further away, even migrating to greener pasture of Canada, America, Australia and New Zealand. Recently this trend has some-what diminished, in decline, mainly due to ever spiralling cost of buying houses that not many could afford. Children stay at home in order to save on rent and get on property ladder, many helped by their parents and grand-parents. So property boom is having beneficial effects, especially on the elderly who now enjoys better living standard than ever.
Humans are gregarious, social minded people who thrive on integration and assimilation with their fellow human-beings that keep them cheerful, mentally alert, healthy, active and young at heart if not physically. Loneliness is the curse, especially during our harsh, bitterly cold winter months when day light and warmth is at premium. Many OAPs try to spend these cold months in tropical countries like India, East Africa and West Indies. But with advancing age and inferior mobility, long distance air travel that may take whole day, from leaving home to reaching destination, is becoming unmanageable for most of us.
One welcoming step we are taking is to move to shelter accommodation where one is in social environment with plenty of social and cultural activities. Some of our nursing homes are like 5* hotels with every conceivable amenity. But cost is prohibitive, up to £1400 per week, out of bound for most people, even with Council’s contribution. Let us have our own retirement homes, in line with enlightened Jewish community!
Kumudini Valambia
By email
