With your VM lectures done and some input into the Client Briefing Process, you should by now have made contact with your partner organisation and should likewise be getting ready to engage with the issues that confront the elderly in South Africa. No matter what the positioning of your project (private high-end project or low cost social housing), your work will need to be driven by an understanding of the needs of the elderly.
You should not forget the plight of the elderly - this is what the project is all about. Understanding their situation and providing a solution that not only addresses their human needs (food, shelter, safety, health) but also their need for social inclusion. Have a look at this YouTube video. Think about the way in which you have engaged with elderly people in your family, home, or community, and share your thoughts with the rest of us.
For those who have not seen the movie, I strongly recommend you see The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
Jonathan
Having seen both the you tube video and the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, i feel that i have had some time to understand a small portion of what the elderly may be going through. I believe that the beginning couple of minutes of the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel portray our project the best. It shows how each of the elderly people, although in the same income bracket, may be coming from very different back grounds. It is this dynamic of taking people from all walks of life and putting them together that makes group dynamics the most interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe main quote from the movie is: 'Everything will work out in the end, so if it is not working out, it is not the end'. I like this a lot and believe that elderly people could relate to this as they become more and more patient with age. People who live in India are on the whole also very patient people therefore linking elderly people with the Indian life style very effectively.
Lastly though i think that the most important thing to remember is that elderly people just want to spend some time with people that they know and love. Regular visits from family can achieve this as well as group activities with in the homes that we will provide. Getting to know one another can help form strong bonds. I even heard on 5fm the other day that there were two people in America who lived in the same retirement home who got remarried at the age of 85, having divorced over forty years ago. This just shows how these homes can be a happy place and inspire relationships all over again.
Thanks for your comments Natasha. I think you really got a keen sense of what the movie was about and how it could assist you in your project.
DeleteThe Youtube video definitely reiterates how vulnerable old people are and how they are often forgotten. Old age is described as a second 'childhood' or 'childishness'. From interactions I have had with my grandparents and also the old people in old-age homes I would visit through the Interact Society, I have learnt the following:
ReplyDeleteOld people want to be or still feel independent yet their bodies are failing them. Some of them feel insulted if you try and assist them too much. Hence I understand the different levels of care offered by some retirement villages such as frail care, assisted living suites etc. I also feel that it is important for us in our projects to create an environment where they do not have to feel ashamed of this phase of life but to celebrate they have made it this far!
Old people start being preoccupied with thoughts about their death and therefore a peaceful and relaxed environment that allows for reflection upon all the years and acceptance of what is to come is necessary.
Old people are bursting to tell anyone about all their experiences and wisdom gained. They do like talking if one just gives them the time to listen. It is important therefore to allow for retirement villages that enable them to continue a social life and have friendships till they pass on.
Thanks for sharing your experiences & ideas. I think you are right about old people liking to talk - they have much to share if we would just make the time to listen.
DeleteThe YouTube video showed how the busier we become the less time we spend on other people, especially the elderly. I am yet to watch The best exotic Marigold Hotel but from what I gathered from the trailer, it seems as though more and more people are waking up to the fact that the elderly need a place where they can relax and enjoy the remainder of their life without feeling neglected or lonely. This gap in the market is yet to be filled.
ReplyDeleteIts clear to me now more than ever that the elderly, despite being physically vulnerable, are emotionally alert and crave human interaction just as much as the next person.
I liked your observation that despite physical limitations, the elderly are 'emotionally alert'. I think you are 100% correct. In a world in which we so value the physical aspects of our nature and being, we often neglect amazing things because they don't appear to function physically in the way be want or expect.
DeleteAfter watching this video and visiting Pinewood retirement village, it became all too clear to me that getting old is no fun. Disregarding the superficial aspects of this process, that is, wrinkles, having to watch one's body giving up and be so vulnerable is really heartbreaking. I was looking at this old man in one of the assisted living sanatorium wards, you could see the lines of fatigue and mild confusion on his face. It really touched me. I wasnt really empathetic of the plight of the elderly after watching the video Jonathan posted but after I saw the 3-D picture of it at the village, it really got me thinking. I thought to myself, this old man was once probably a self sufficient man and now he has been reduced to this. It really is the second childhood in life.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day we will all get old, if we are lucky. All we can do is to make sure these people are treated with the respect they deserve and have their needs and wants met. That is what is important when developing retirement home.
Thanks for a great post - very honest and open. You are of course correct; nothing really matches our experiencing something first hand. Your observation of the gentleman at Pinewood is just such an experience. Don't let it get you down - just know that your input into this project could make a difference for some elderly person some day.
DeleteHaving watched this Youtube video, it relates strongly to what I have seen at my grandfather's current retiremnet village. It is by no means a low end bracketed home, but I myself would not want to end up there. It is not the facilities that is so intense, but the atmosphere. There are many people sick, incapable of even geting out of bed themselves. This is not the way I would like to end up. Although I have a completely different view on the elderly and my eventual ageing, its is not the majority view and these people need to be helped.
ReplyDeleteWhen I walk in to the home, even a stanger I have never met before smiles and strikes up a conversation. It seems as though it is not the facilities that is most inportant to these people but the interaction with people and still being able to feel alive and normal. Especially when your basic human functions are giving up on you.
Having our model based on Pinewood, the facilities are clearly important for the high-end patrons too. A combination of an effective, clinic atmosphere and a calm, reflective village vibe need to be achieved. Everyone of these people in this video is someone's grandfather or grandmother and we have to consider how we would like our grandparents and eventually our parents and ourselves to be treated- "Do unto other as you'd have done to you".
Thanks for the comments and personal insights. I think what you have observed is the need for social inclusion, and how so often in society we unconsciously exclude others, especially the elderly that have so little voice.
DeleteThe time is coming for my granny where she needs to decide which retirement home she wants to live in. I spent the June vac trying to help her decide on what aspects are mandatory and others which aren't important in making her decision. For her, she is worried about frail care, she is perfectly healthy and amazing for her age, but she is worried about the "what if...". What if she gets sick or hurts herself. This was her most important point when looking at retirement homes. Not all homes offer this facility and it can be extremely costly.
ReplyDeleteHaving visited a few in Durban i was able to see what it is like in these home/villages. We looked at a wide array of facilities each uniquely different. It was very enlightening and scary to think that one day i could end up in one of the retirement places. I think it is important that the occupants retain some of their privacy whilst still being socially active withing the village. Having independent and group activities such as gardening or outings.
As this would be the final stage of their lives i think it is important that the home/village is in a tranquil and peaceful setting with fresh air. This will hopefully enable them to enjoy this time of their lives.
Thanks for sharing your personal experience Lara; along with the social issues, you have identified some of the issues that need to be considered (peace, tranquility, etc). Often these are not considered for projects at a certain end of the market.
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ReplyDeleteIn high school I was a member of the interact society (This is basically a group of students who perform charity work). One year we decided to have a Christmas party at Huis Zonnekus, which is an old age home in Milnerton. We asked the school choir to sing Christmas carols and we handed out tea and cake. I still remember the looks of joy on the residents’ faces. They loved talking about their lives and learning about ours. This simple communication brightened their day tremendously. The elderly need social interaction so that they can feel involved in society and not locked away in an institution. At the end of the afternoon, the residents at Huis Zonnekus enjoyed the party so much that they asked us to come back the following year and it became an annual event for our society.
ReplyDeleteBefore we visited the Abbeyfield head office, I read through their website. They have a collection of testimonials from several residences talking about how Abbeyfield has bettered their lives. Retirement housing is a really amazing concept. Several of the residents talk about how they have made great friends with whom they have been living with for years. Through retirement housing, the elderly are given a social medium that allows them to feel connected to society.
There is a huge shortage in retirement housing and not just in South Africa. In terms of my own grandparents, my grandmother lives in Madeira (Portugal) and she wants to move into retirement housing. She is on several waiting lists but there is simply not enough space to accommodate the aging population.
In the YouTube video, I relate to the part where it points out that we have become so busy with our own lives and often neglect old people. My granny lives about 4 to 5 hours away from us, she often calls to complain that I don’t visit her and I honestly don’t remember when last I visited her; I’ve been caught up in my own issues to even consider how lonely she must be.
ReplyDeleteThe Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie was informative and eye-opening about old age. Who would have thought that they too still fall in love and that they still long to have fun? This hotel development was able to meet not only their financial and welfare needs, but also met their social needs - they had the freedom to explore and interact with India.
Until now, I never really understood the concept of taking an elderly person to an old age home. In my community, the family (and neighbours sometimes) takes care of their elders until they die. Growing up, I noticed that elderly people around me are much attached to their homes and the people around them, and perhaps don’t ever consider going to old age homes because they know little or nothing about retirement villages and how they work. Even if, say, they did consider moving into retirement villages, finances would generally be an issue; especially for those who do not have pension funds.
After visiting Pinewood Village, I now understand why old people move into retirement villages as well as why they should consider moving there. Pinewood is a beautiful and peaceful place offering the tranquillity that elderly people often seek; the monthly levy covering items like water, rates, electricity, etc., takes away the burden of having to remember to go pay each item/expense and we all know that old people are not blessed with good memory. Moreover, there is professional health assistance available 24/7, something one cannot really get in their own private home/house.
I am fortunate enough to still have all my grandparents around and they all only stopped working after they reached the age of 75. None of them are in retirement villages and as far as I know, there are no plans to go into them.
ReplyDeleteI actually watched the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel with my gran and her one criticism was that there was no casino available. Perhaps this is something that the high-end centres should look into.
It concerns me that as a family, we do not yet have a plan as to what would happen if one of the grandparents would need frail care, as this would create a huge financial burden. My one gran is constantly telling me how she only has enough money to last another 10 years, after which she doesn’t know what will happen, though she is also a firm believer that the world is going to end in 2012, so I don’t think she is too worried. I though am now trying to plan how I will have to save for my retirement and possibly that of my parents.
I think it is vitally important that retirement centres be highly accessible to the community and that community involvement be a regular occurrence in order to bring comfort to those that aren’t fortunate enough to have a family support system.
Before looking at the material, I’ve had the time to come to terms with exactly what the elderly are going through. For a number of years, my Grandmother lived in our ‘Grannyflat’. This brought my attention to the amount of care she desired – not to say that she couldn’t fend for herself but the necessities of life such as companionship and health became more and more of an issue. There is something heartbreaking about watching a woman stubbornly fight the inevitable, however a shift in mindset can change that all together. This shift came when we (including her) decided that the best option would be a ‘retirement village’ or equivalent thereof. (http://www.capetownvillas.co.uk/enquiries/contact/rushmere-cottage)
ReplyDeleteSince moving into her new home, she has had the opportunity to focus on her friendships and personal finances without the worries of other hassles such as maintenance costs etc. However, keeps the independence she desires by ‘living’ alone. It is clear from the Youtube clip that neglect is a primary concern but regular visits were tantamount with her move and it really has been for the best.
These types of villages allow the elderly to enjoy their ‘second childhoods’ and live life to the full by providing the necessities that are so synonymous with that. It is a harsh reality that we will all get old and, at some stage, require the help that these homes provide. It doesn’t need to be a depressing fact. One can be cared for and helped whilst enjoying the small pleasures of life. (Which are usually only appreciated with wisdom-something certainly not lacking?)
Technology coupled with modernity has exponentially increased the gap between the ‘young’ and the ‘old’. The old and frail have been heavily side-lined by the fast-paced society of today. Today’s class discussion on the plight of the elderly highlighted how society has rendered them voiceless. This is heart-breaking considering that they are the very same people that we, as the youth, have built our existence upon.
ReplyDeleteLiving with my gran has shown me that despite our differing ages, we share the same core needs. Old age does not change ones need to love as well as to be loved. As humans we were made to relate thus the desire for companionship does not simply fizzle with age. An ideal village would be one that not only focusses on health-care issues but one which also considers social and spiritual needs.
Having not had much interaction with the elderly, thinking about retirement homes/villages is pretty much a new concept for me. Having visited my grandparents overseas at the beginning of the year however, I can begin to see the importance. Whilst growing up they always seemed fit and healthy and to enjoy life constantly. However, having had a few years pass and myself grow up, it is heartbreaking to see the people you love start to age and need more care. My grandmother even pointed out the number of christmas and new years cards that sat in the dining room, a considerable number less than years gone past.. this was evidence of their friends and family passing away I was told, which brings to mind the issue of companionship we have discussed so much. The last thing anyone wants to see is they people they love be lonely, and hence I can further understand the need for retirement homes and villages.
ReplyDeleteI come from a country where, as far as I know, there are no old aged homes. In fact, I don't think the Malawian society would subscribe to the idea of placing their parents (old aunts and uncles included) in an old aged home; not because they wouldn't be able to afford it, but it is generally viewed as a must that you take care of your parents from the moment you can. For example, in my family a decision was made to build my grandmother a house and pay for all the required expenses (special care, transportation, bills, food, medicals). In my culture the overall sentiment is that your parents took care of you and you must do anything possible to make sure they are taken care of- no questions asked.
ReplyDeleteTo be quite honest, I have not actually thought much about how other cultures approach the question of the elderly. To be brutally honest, I have only ever known old-aged homes as places for non-African cultures (a result of my own ignorance coupled with how I was brought up). So, this project is very interesting for me as it is not only opening my eyes to a different sector within the property industry, but I am also being faced with issues that I had never considered and that are extremely important. Truth is that we do live in a world where old-aged homes are necessary.
The point that elderly people need to be shown more love and attention especially in this fast-paced world is very true. To build on my previous example, my grandmother lives 20 minutes from where my parents and I reside. However, due to a busy schedule, I am usually only able to visit her twice whenever I am home for vacation. When I do visit her, she opens up like a can of worms with so many stories and things that she wants to say to me. The experience is always so lovely and I usually leave wanting to spend more time with her, and I know the feeling is mutual. The elderly are such a treat to be around and I definitely appreciate the importance of spending more time with them, especially in their 'second childhood'. There's just something about their unconditional love and endless wisdom that just makes them worth every minute of your time.
I thought that the statistic about 57 million people over the age of 60 live in India is overpowering to think what will happen. Its crazy to think what the statistic in South Africa is. I think retirement homes are a good way for the elderly to be social amongst their own generation. At Pinewood Village there is a community centre where the elderly can relax and which is a great way for them to mix. I find that amongst the western culture, the elderly are not that fond of mixing with the youth of today. They come from very different times and think very differently to the generation of today. I find that they enjoy mixing with their generation and in their community than to be out of their comfort zone. If they would like to be more social they should initiate their own actions to mix with the youth otherwise i believe that retirement homes are great for social interaction and companionship.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking with class mates in the African community, the concept of retirement villages is new. Culturally the elderly are social through their extended family interactions and religious views. It will still take a long time for the African community to adjust to this type of retirement concept but right now in terms of being social the elders are happy with their social interactions.
This project has really created a big spark of interest for me. It has become quite clear to me, from the project but also from personal experiences, that the old age need to be taken care of.
ReplyDeleteThey were also once young, they also had goals and dreams, they also had friendships and social circles. However, as we all know - the older we become, the more these various aspects of life start to dwindle. I therefore strongly believe that society and families need to strive to ensure the last few years of their lives are great, if not, the best!
Personally, I witnessed my great gran live in a very "low-income" type old age home in the cape flats area. Given the family circumstances and lack of funding, this was the only option. Yes, it wasn't the best place, but the nursing staff made sure she was taken care of. My only wish was that the environment would have been better. The place, the smell of the building, the lack of facilities will always be something that I will remember. I wished then, that there was another option, but being as young as I was and given the family circumstances, there was nothing that I or the family could do. The one thing which we could do was visit her which always made her happy.
Witnessing, one of my own, go through this, has really made me think otherwise. It has given me a new perspective of the old age, and has ultimately made me extremely determined to ensure that my grandparents and my parents will spend their last few years in a great, clean, peaceful environment - something which many old age people do not have the privilege of experiencing.
This project has prompted much thought from my group as to the business model, the design, and the layout of the development, the amenities and many other considerations. In all of the ideas we have examined it is obvious how much thought is given to the people who will be living in the development.
ReplyDeleteI have grand parent who are currently moving into the Alphenvale retirement village which has given me a few interesting thoughts on retirement villages. The waiting list for retirement villages are for a very long period sometimes spanning years. Being on a waiting list the long period of time can be very stressful on retirees. A mechanism to stagger the entrance into the houses should be considered. Another important aspect of the retirement village that is quite important for retirees is the thought of a friendly community. Creating an environment that promotes a vibrant community should be a goal when developing a retirement village.
After watching the YouTube video on elderly people in India, I suddenly realised that old people are actually neglected and they are probably very lonely. I think the life i'm living right now has sort of excluded me from interacting with old people, honestly I probably see 1 old person a month, only now i wonder about where they could be.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I do have a grandmother, but the idea of retirement villages is foreign in our "black" culture. We are used to people getting old and they start living with their families, or perhaps, like in my grandmothers case, they live in their own houses and you hire people to look after them. I'm not sure if its because we find it expensive or its an idea we're just not used to.
In my own experience, moving into retirement homes have not been something that people look forward to. There is a strong perception that it is a place where children send their parents to get rid of the nuisance of caring for them. Added to this, a few years ago Carte Blanche ran a story about the terrible way in which old people were being treated in some of these homes, especially the elderly who needed the care of assisted living, and even worse still the residents who suffered from mild dementia or Alzheimers.
ReplyDeleteThese fears aside, I can understand how the initial step of taking the decision to move into a retirement village can be extremely difficult. A lot of people have spent their lives working incredibly hard and being self sufficient. To then have to admit to needing the additional care that such a home offers requires a serious mind shift change.
I once heard a story about how someone's gran (who was a widow) who had broken both of her wrists and as a result had both her arms in casts. Someone had to come in to help her every time she needed to dress, eat, bath or go to the loo. While the person providing this care may have all the patience and kindness in the world (which is often not the case), they are at the end of the day a complete stranger to this old person, and having them help you in doing these very basic tasks can be very invasive and demeaning.
While there is no easy solution to the above, I can however sympathise with the plight that old people are faced with.
Having a grandfather in a frail care home presently gives me great insight as to the needs of the elderly and furthermore to the way
ReplyDeletethey are treated and viewed by society.
Often old age homes are viewed as the place to remove old people
from the fast paced lives of society. For this reason they have
little to no voice because it is perceived they can no
longer contribute to the workings of the world and are as a result forgotten.
Therefore, when designing and developing an old age home, the needs of the elderly are paramount, because ideally you want to create a place that does not make them feel they are being pushed aside and forgotten about, it must not feel like they are in a "departure lounge". When you are old you need help to do everything, and for this reason we must create environments that cater for all their needs.
A lot of the time, people regard the youth as superior because they are a sign of what is to come in future target markets. Many people value the input of a younger person, and place less value on the input of elderly people as their ideas are 'old fashioned' and 'out of date'. For this reason, the needs of the elderly are not always known. A person designing an old aged home facility would most likely not have reached old age, and would therefore be unaware of what needs are particular to the elderly. After watching the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, I have realised that people of a similar age may require completely different living arrangements and situations. Therefore, it is so important to ask elderly people directly what amenities they would require in a home.
ReplyDeleteVisiting our organization's elderly home facility and speaking to Mr Gavin really did enlighten me on factors which I think are often over looked.
ReplyDeleteI agree that becoming old can be seen as a second childhood, but what we over look is that the elderly are still adults. They need the care like a child, but not to be treated like one.
They still need their own space and privacy. Yes we know they can become loney, but loneliness isn't just solved by shoving them in with strangers. Loneliness comes from not being able to do things, and no one around to help. This is why transport is so important to them. Without it they're stranded, and that adds to loneliness. The elderly realy on mainly on our unsafe public transport to get around, and yet many of us won't even consider getting on a bus or taxi, but there aren't many alternitives for them.
The elderly live simple lives and so their needs are few, but so much more important. Many of the day to day things we take for granted can play a huge role in the lives of the old, and so we need to stop looking at them sympathetically but more in a empathetic manner so that we can better understand their needs.
I think that it should not be hard to understand the needs of the elderly as they should be the exact same as our own. We all need a comfortable place to stay, food, warmth, love, happiness etc. However, and what is evident from the video is that we have become so busy that we often put the needs of the elderly aside to prioritise our own committments thus resulting in the lonely and sad feelings they experience. It is vital that the aged know that the ones they raised still care and value them and the onus is upon us to show them that by making sure their last days on earth are as comfortable as possible. It is also vital that the elderly are stimulated mentally, physically, emotionally and even spiritually so we can keep up the relationships we had with them when we/they were younger. Old people should not just be shunned, away from society because their opinions still do count. they have vast arrays of knowledge and experience that should not be ignored just because of our changing world. They may not understand the way we think but that shouldnt mean that their opinions are outdated or invalid.They should not feel that they are just waiting to die. This mentality must be elimnated through the formation of relationships not only within their family but through their community as well. This can be achieved if they are situated in the right accomodation that caters to their needs, rather than just being shut away at a place that is convenient for us.
ReplyDeleteIt is common practice where I come from for families to take care of each other; if a member became elderly they would either be taken in by relatives or invite relatives to live with them. I have had such little experience with old-age homes that I cannot recall ever visiting one, despite this, the urgency for elderly care is still very important to me and I recognise that it is an underappreciated problem that needs the attention of the community.
ReplyDeleteIn my family we have two extremes. The one side of grandparents are fairly young and the other side fairly old. Its tough for the elder ones, they have to deal with things like partners Alzheimers and lack of hearing, and for a husband/wife to deal with that when they are growing old is tougher than we can imagine. The younger grandparents fear what may come and put plans into place for old age homes, but the elder grandparents lack the capacity to do so now. Its up to their loved ones to make wise decisions for them. The video rings true in saying the elderly reach their second childishness. I think it is up to the younger community to step up to the plate and give a helping hand, after all we are all going to be there at some stage.
ReplyDeleteTo date I can not recall any interactions with my grandparents as they unfortunately passed on at a very early stage in my life. Consequently, elderly life and related requirements have always been an unchartered train of thought for myself, and has really not received the necessary thought and consideration that it requires.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is that elderly people often go through a lonely and depressing lifestage where they seem to be left by the wayside and their previous efforts and achievements in life are neglected by others, even within the family. However, another fact is that this need not be the case and measures and societal efforts can largely ameliorate the situation.
Having met with Wendy and Ingrid from Abbeyfield on Friday the 3rd this month, it was really brought to my attention just how dire elderly lifestyles can be. The meeting really pulled on the heartstrings as Abbeyfield is an NGO aiming to cater for retirees who often earn approximately R1200 a month, which has many implications of suffering and struggle. In fact we were told that some of the retirees who live together often look after another when the person becomes very sickly because there is no provision for frail care, and if Abbeyfield becomes aware of this then the person may be required to leave the residence with nowhere to go.
This aligns itself well with the Youtube clip, and provides a true-state representation of what the elderly are subjected to. The fact is that it is a dull state of affairs, however, by focusing on the negatives you'll ultimately hinder chances of creating positives and improving retirement life.
All in all I am really excited to see how this project progresses, as I view the topic as not only a requirement but actually something interesting and really worthwhile engaging with.
The video above highlights a very candid and sadly truthful reality of neglect felt by the elderly population of the world. The fast pace nature of life as we know it allows little time for those close to us let alone elderly parents and grandparents.
ReplyDeleteLife expectancies in the today's day and age are steadily rising and thus as the 21st century progresses, the elderly are going to live longer and demand greater attention and care as a result. Many senior citizens once confined to retirement homes are forgotten by their relatives and lose the attention they need whilst going through their "second childhood'. Physically their ability to self sustain and participate declines, but emotionally and mentally elderly people are still for the most part aware.
I fully agree with Muneeb's comment above. My personal experience with the elderly has been rather limited and stems from my personal relationships with my grandparents. Before this project I never really considered ways in which to accommodate for the needs of the elderly and I guess that's a clear indication of how people in today's society almost forget about that stage of life, or in a way try or choose to forget about it as it brings about thoughts like not being self sustainable and having to be taken care of. Subconsciously I guess those thoughts relate to fear and therefore people have the perception that they will deal with it when it affects them and when they are personally forced to cross that bridge.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day on the other side of the spectrum there are elderly people who are currently having to cross that bridge, who are being forced to face the reality of old age. This project has opened my mind to that aspect and essentially I believe that it is one of those projects that we will be talking about with other retirees when we are forced to face the reality of getting old, becoming frail, and require others to help us through the last stages of our lives if we are blessed enough to experience it.
As young people of today I believe that this project allows us to get involved with this natural process of life, understand it more, and come up with ideas and strategies to help this worsening situation faced by the elderly. Who knows this project could create some spark which drives an individual in this class to completely change the situation which the elderly face in our country and other parts of the world.
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ReplyDeleteI am fortunate enough to still have all my grandparents around and they all only stopped working after they reached the age of 75. None of them are in retirement villages and as far as I know, there are no plans to go into them.
ReplyDeleteI actually watched the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel with my gran and her one criticism was that there was no casino available. Perhaps this is something that the high-end centres should look into.
It concerns me that as a family, we do not yet have a plan as to what would happen if one of the grandparents would need frail care, as this would create a huge financial burden. My one gran is constantly telling me how she only has enough money to last another 10 years, after which she doesn’t know what will happen, though she is also a firm believer that the world is going to end in 2012, so I don’t think she is too worried. I though am now trying to plan how I will have to save for my retirement and possibly that of my parents.
I think it is vitally important that retirement centres be highly accessible to the community and that community involvement be a regular occurrence in order to bring comfort to those that aren’t fortunate enough to have a family support system.
“Retirement is a time to make the inner journey and come face to face with your flaws, failures, prejudices, and all the factors that generate thoughts of unhappiness. Retirement is not a time to sleep, but a time to awaken to the beauty of the world around you and the joy that comes when you cast out all the negative elements that cause confusion and turmoil in your mind and allow serenity to prevail.”
ReplyDeleteThe old are often fragile and weak yet still have hearts of love and kindness and thus it is these beings that need the utmost care. The project on retirement homes has really created a great interest for me into what is required to cater for the elderly.
Everybody was once young and hopefully did all they could to live life to the full, but we all get old and as we reach retirement it becomes a time to relax, reflect and enjoy what is left ahead of you. It it thus important to satisfy the needs of the elderly accordingly and provide the utmost care where needed.
Personally, my gran lives in an upmarket retirement village in Durban where she is cared for, she has friends around her to support and care for her and her meals and health care is provided for her. It allows her to enjoy herself and relax knowing that everything is catered for her. She also has the freedom of allowing us to visit her whenever and allows our family to sit back knowing she is in good hands and will not be ill-treated. The elderly are a group today that are often taken advantage of especially in dis-advantaged or poor communities where their social grants do not even reach them and thus it is important that the elderly can experience the privilege of a retirement village that caters for their needs.
Thus our group has had in depth discussions on the business model we shall adapt trying to cater for all the relevant needs of the elderly whilst still being affordable. Our group is striving to come up with a successful design and layout of the village whilst providing the elderly with adequate facilities and health care that will result in their last stage of life being peaceful, fruitful and lastly a retirement of happiness.
My grandfather who lived on his own recently fell down the the stairs to his bedroom and injured himself quite severely. It was this incident that made his three children decide immediately that he wasn't able to live on his own anymore. All of his children were more then happy to take him on so he came to stay with my family for about a month.
ReplyDeleteThe only problem was that after a month of taking care of him it was apparent that his fall left him a lot less capable then before. My parents found that it really was a full time job taking care of him and he needed constant supervision and care. The next best alternative was to find a home with a frailcare where he could have all his needs provided for. Fortunately we were able to find an opening in a place that was very convienent to for us to visit.
It's incredibly difficult moving someone from the environment that they are familiar with into a completely new one and after helping my grandpa move into his new home I noticed a few things that could make a difference in an elderly persons' life.
One of the main things I noticed was that a retirement village should not be isolated, it should allow for intergration with the community. A few girls from a nearby school visited the home and gave each person a package with a few necessities. Many of the people in the village, including my grandpa, really appreciated the visit and couldn't stop talking about how much they enjoyed it.
Another thing I realized was the ability to have your own garden outside your room was very valuable. It really creates a peaceful environment for someone to live in. It also makes the idea of living in a smaller area more inviting when you are able to sit outside and enjoy your own private garden.
I thought I had posted my comment in this blog but obviously did not press publish.
ReplyDeleteI have just recent,y become very aware of the needs of the elderly. With my grandpa passing away a year ago, my gran has had to adjust to life without him. They had been married for 60 years, and I can't imagine how difficult it must be now to have to make such a huge adjustment.
I have seen how difficult it is too get the average daily activities done, and spending time with my gran I have now come to realize how important a good retirement home is. After my grandpas death, my gran moved into a new old age home, they have frail care facility right next door. They have a common dinning area where the tenants are required to attend at least 3 dinners there a week, I thought thiis was very good as it made them interact with each other and hopefully make new friends and combat the loneliness fa tractor a bit.
I strongly believe loneliness is a big issue with getting old, and having people around is a big must.
Having watched the video as well as visited my groups institution, the pinewood retirement estate, I am able to understand much more clearly, the needs of the elderly. Its clear that needs of the elderly extend beyond the obvious physical limitations and those typically associated with disability, to obvious and common problems chief among which is loneliness.
ReplyDeleteHaving said this, as a part of my groups development proposal, I would like to formulate a design centered largely around the social and emotional inclusion and well being of its residents. An idea taken from Pinewood, is the idea of inter - institution activities, in which residents of different estates interact in various ways through organised social gatherings, competitions etc. Organised activities such as these may be worth considering as an integral part of the management and services on offer to residents within our development.
Just before my grandfather had passed away my grandmother was diagnosed with alzheimer's but he looked after her completely. After his passing we decided she needed to move closer to family as she could not be on her own for safety reasons. After living for a while on her own in her own house, moving into a small room with a bathroom was a tough adaptation. She complains that she feels lost and lonely and that she doesn't belong in the retirement hotel.
ReplyDeleteThe main needs, for her specifically, is for her to receive enough attention and to never be alone. This obviously differs with each person but i think overall friendship is extremely important for the elderly otherwise they dwell on the past. In her case, however much of the past she can remember.
From experiences i notice that the elderly are extremely stubborn and 'tunnel visioned' to a degree, and they need a companion or friend to listen to their troubles and past events. They want to be made to feel special and valued and to not be ignored, otherwise they feel dependent as opposed to independent. Due to their age and therefore life experiences, they feel they know whats best for them thus taking away that independence is a large problem area and should be dealt with caution.
I think the elderly are often brushed aside, and even forgotten. Which is sad because they have all given so much of their life to society and their families, raised their children, made sacrifices to ensure the future of their family is prosperous, but in the end they end up in a home that can sometimes be a lonely place. The world is just too much of a busy place. Thats why i think homes must be designed in such a way to breath a new life into the elderly, a place that helps them make friends and enjoy the simple pleasure that life has to offer. I have not seen the movie per se, but from the trailer, and what i can grasp from it, these old people start a new page of their life and find a lust for it. The eldery jsut need companionship and thats what this project should aim to d. To be a secure, safe and homely environment that helps rebuild life for the elderly at a slower pace than the rest of the rapidly advancing techonological world we live in.
ReplyDeletepersonally i've never given my opinion on the topic of the elderly. i never had many elderly people i my family even so understanding the elderly would be a diificult thing to do under my upbringing circumstances. However o do believe that evryone has needs and these needs have to be mmert i always been in a believr that the elderly should be looked after by there families, mthis is ffrom my cultural background and religous upbringing that you dont desert the elderly in your family as they are the responsibility of the family as a whole, so i would always have sent elderly people to live within the fam,ily as they know exactly what the needs of the person are and will always have the family bond present which is most iportant as there would be intergration between different generations permanently and safety because the sense of people who care for you are around you and will be there for you reagrdless of circumstances and i do believe that is very important to the elderly. i did try to view the movuie ubfrotunately it refused to play properly but i have had comments of this movie and from what i was rtold the main thiing was to keep the elderly in a state of serenity and peace but also giving them the freedom to be there own person as no single person wants to be a burden ion another.Our projrct should look to integrate families wuth elderly from different generations and different cultural and probably religous back grounds asqwell and to give them the sense of security and companionship within the development as to give the effect of a Community family aswell as the sense that there are not a burden on any other
ReplyDeleteComments on the topic of the elderly:
ReplyDeleteComing from Botswana and from quite a traditional family treatment of the elderly is quite a sensitive topic. By culture, most elderly people live in the areas they were born and maybe visit the city once or twice a year. For them their home is the rural areas and they enjoy the simplicity of the village life. The concept of a "retirement home" is not really something that would appeal to us because our elderly live with our cousins or some family relative anyway.
In terms of your definition of their "needs" (food, shelter, safety and health),i think you have neglected to account for the happiness. The security and safety introduced through the implementation of retirement villages far outweighs any security that the elderly may have in a village or rural area but that is where they are happiest. Surrounded by the friends they grew up with, sleeping in the traditional homes built by their grand-parents and farming in the farms of their fathers. In some sense, the village is their retirement village. They are not lonely, isolated or neglected.
The reality in South Africa however is a little different especially for middle to higher income earners were ones children live hours away and high security walls destroy any sense of community and rather introduce isolation. The concept of analyzing the elderly needs based on security, health, food and safety is more appropriate in this context where happiness almost comes secondary to all the rest.
After watching the you tube video, The plight of the elderly in India, I was very touched by the video. I have never paid much attention to the elderly and this video most certainly caught my attention. I sadly do not have any grandparents, they passed away when I was much younger. When we were initially given this project, I did however think back to the my experience when I was in Grade 9. My Granny lived in Port Elizabeth and in the last year of her life, she got very ill. My mom and her brothers had to move her to a retirement home. As this illness arose very suddenly, the old age home that she went to was not our first choice for her. I remember this retirement home very clearly, and sadly, I do not have positive images in my head. After this experience, I would never want my own mother to live her last few years of her life in a home where I believe is not fully up standard. A home needs to be friendly and bright. It is so true, that often the elderly are just neglected and not much attention is given to them. I believe the key points emphasised in the you tube video were neglection and loneliness and these are 2 areas that need to be very carefully addressed. We need to pay more attention to the elderly and allow them the freedom to express themselves as sometimes they are often just neglected.
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