GROWING OLD – EXPECTING
These attitudes are not peculiar to old people, many middle-aged and young people seek power and status, often by devious and cruel means. Why should we expect old people to be different? In old age, people most often behave as they did when they were younger. Societal attitudes which emphasize ownership, greed, selfishness, and deceit can hardly be expected to produce old saints out of middle-aged ruthless, grasping entrepreneurs. If you were a middle-aged delinquent, you may grow into a senile delinquent.
It is also true that some old people become disabled or ill and have to be in hospital, although it is a myth that the majority of old people live in hospitals, nursing homes, or old folks’ homes. As far as hospitals are concerned, studies in Britain have shown that, in 1973, about half of the hospital beds available were occupied by people over the age of 65. However, three-quarters of them were in ‘acute’ medical or surgical beds and most would be discharged from hospital after a short time. A quarter were occupying ‘chronic’ beds, but even in this case many of the people could be cared for at home if there were appropriate community services and, more importantly, help from other elderly people. Most of them would be happier and more independent at home.
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