Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Thoughts on Aging from an Older Person

1.  Older people are still people, and they should be treated that way.

2.  Aging is a normal part of life, not a disease.

3.  Care should be supportive, not controlling. Older people should remain in charge of their own life and health decisions unless they are incompetent. Health care professionals are advisors not decision-makers.

4.  People benefit from the richness of community life. Older people should not be separated from normal community life unless they so desire.

5.  Independence, convenience and mobility. Older people should be helped to remain independent as long they can. If possible, they should have the opportunity to live where they can meet their daily needs and participate in community life without the need for a car or assistance from others. Walking is a personal pleasure and an opportunity to participate in community life.

6.  Community and Privacy. Older people should have the right to continually choose their own balance between community and privacy.

7.  It is a normal part of life that older people’s minds and bodies go into decline. They may need help understanding the changes and adjusting to them.

8.  Death is as normal as birth (but it usually comes later). Without death, the world sure would be crowded by now.

9.  The measure of life is fullness, not duration.

10.  People have the moral right to die with dignity. No one, not even the government, should attempt to deny them that.

1 comment:

  1. Thank you for all the time you took to teach us and how you continue to teach me today. You are missed and loved.

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