The "route" that we all must take.....

Reading this letter Sometimes we have to leave old folks be by 'the sandwiched generation', I think this problem of the seeming lack of love of their parents by some Malaysians is just going to be more complicated and acute, by the day, as our population ages, and the size of the family unit dwindles because of high costs of living. Looking at ways out of the quagmire, we have seen views like legislating the non care of parents as a punishable offence as is being done in a neighbouring country, building more and better Nursing homes, keeping medical costs down for the aged, and lately I have even received the suggestion of a friend, that this is the time to make 'caring for the aged' a respected and 'high income' profession in line with Malaysia's objective to reach the next level of competence.

However, I feel that in all such discussions and in the case as addressed by 'the sandwiched generation', wherein, he, as a retired person having children to look after, and is suffering from cancer, while taking care of his disabled mother who requires very expensive medical treatment, we have not considered a more holistic approach to terminal patient care as practised by the Hospice Organisations in the country. Such organisations, led by Hospis Malaysia, offer palliative care to those who ask for them, in homes of the patients, and encourage communication between family members and the hospice person involved. Aged parents and terminally ill people need to be loved, they understand the difficulties faced by the persons looking after them and do not want to b a nuisance. Sending those who are ill or disabled by illness to homes are at best good only for the conscience, and at worst will subject to the loved ones being abused by care givers who may even be illegally employed by the Homes! The Government should raise the national awareness of the availability of the services provided by the hospices and the 'angels' who tirelessly work to make the aged and terminall ill feel they are still loved. The Government should also strongly support ALL Hospice organisations in the country, as they form a bridge between the sufferor and the sufferees, besides making medical treatment and palliative care affordable. In the long term of course, the government should ensure that ALL Malaysians are covered by medical insurance, though in this era of an aging population and merciless profit making insurance companies, I fear it will not be possible..

I would like to end this by quoting from the Hospis newsletter that a terminally ill person " only wants what is in your mind and in your Heart". Malaysians must learn to care more.....