With a globally growing aging population, you would have assumed that there are more systems in place to protect our elderly.
This is especially so with the precedent we have set historically, socially, and culturally – there has always been a need to care for our elderly.
As archeology and research have recently proven, even the Neanderthals did it! It is easy to understand why we have always looked out for the old.
Before modern medicine became as efficient as it is today, being able to achieve such an old age was something of a spectacle to behold.
Between war, famine, and disease, a person who managed to live that long of a life was essentially not only a living connection between a community’s present and their past, but also a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.
From a less emotional perspective, these seniors were often your own parents.
Having given so much into raising you as an adult, it only stands to reason that we would want to return that love and care for our parents in their golden years.
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Unfortunately, caring for old folks can be hard, and is a thankless job that is only getting harder.
With most adult children no longer able to reach out to extended family or a community for help, the caretaking duties of one’s elderly parents can get incredibly taxing. Not to mention that it is a 24/7 job.
Couple this with issues like smaller living spaces, low wages, and the need to maintain a social life to cultivate a personal community for support and to care for one’s own mental health – no wonder people get stressed out by it!
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This, unfortunately, has led to some horrible situations where the elderly have been abused or abandoned by their adult children.
A recent example of this is when Jerry Ellingsen, an 80-year-old man, showed up in the Denver Airport alone with nothing else but the clothes on his back and his dog.
Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the senior wasn’t able to provide solid answers when he was questioned by the police.
Instead, basic questions about the general details of his life – including knowledge of his current location – and the reason behind his visit to the airport only left him confused.
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It was later discovered that Jerry’s daughter, Pamela Ellingsen, had gotten fed up with taking care of her father.
Initially, Jerry was cared for by his brother and nephew in Southwest Florida. He was then later sent to live with his daughter.
She eventually opted to send him on a one-way trip to Denver to stay with his estranged wife, who had no further forewarning about what was to come, aside from a brief text the day before.
It took some work, but the police eventually figured out Jerry’s identity and contacted both his estranged wife and his daughter.
Unfortunately, neither of them are willing to take over the responsibility for Jerry’s care.
Luckily, the local hospital is required by law to take him in. It is good that Jerry will have some sort of backup plan in store for him.