There was a item in the paper about "Tagging" the elderly, the suggestion was that the technology that is used to tag criminals, should be adapted to meet the needs of the elderly confused.

Having looked after someone of nearly 91 untill the end of their life, who had age related confusion for the last three years of his life and a 30 second attention span for the last nine months.

I have to say I am in favour of anything which will make people safer and bring both peace of mind and support to carers.

I am very annoyed by the reporter/editor who though is was o.k. to dismiss it out of hand on the basis of "Big Brother" and said it took away peoples dignity.

I would like those same pleople to explain to me what dignity there is if, a confused elderly person wanders off in a split second of the carers distraction and; walks out in to a road and gets hurt/killed and possible hurts/kills someone else? Falls in a river and drowns, or wanders off feels tired and sits down and falls asleep and dies as a result of not being found! E.T.C.

I would also like to hear their explantion to the family caught up in such a situation! What words of comfort could they possible give?

I would like them to tell me how they would lift the burden of guilt from the carers shoulders, if someone they cared for was hurt or killed?

I don't know how you feel?

But as someone who's been at the sharp end and had the experience of having someone you are responsable for go missing (because someone else left the door unlocked) it is absolutly terryfing!

Therefore I would appreciate the views of people who are either facing this situation now, or are of an age i.e. over fifty, who may have to consider "what they would do" if faced with this problem?


 

I understand where you are comming from Phoenix and over all I aggree with you that "Big Brother" is getting dangeously close'

Unfortunately any system is open to abuse, surely no one can suggest that if something can be abused, we shouldn't use it where apporpreiate?

I agree with what you say Phoenix, I was also saying it's all we have. I suppose we must do what we most often do in the world we are living in today. try to screen out as much negitive stuff as possible and cocentrate on the positive!

Unfortunately as someone pointed out in another fourm if we do start making this technology available for the frail elderly, the powers that be will end up using it to save money on the budget and leave people at risk in homes on their own so they don't have to fund nursing care!

Very naive of me to assume it is technology that would only be used at the request of a FULLTIME CARER!!!!

I was widowed at twenty five and brought my children up on my own, only renarrying when the youngest was 18.

My current husband is ex-services, so neither of us got on to the property ladder!

But I have no difficultiy understanding how betrayed old and more vulnerable elderly people and there families must feel!

Especially the generation of men told they were sacrificing their lives to create a land fit for heroes!

Owning your own home and maintaining it for 30-40 is a very costly business, which must have meant giving up many other things to achive? i.e. time watching your family growing up because you were having to work long hours, all the holidays you never had, the places you never saw e.t.c.

Add to that the N.H.S. system you paid you tax and N.I. comtributions all your life to fund, omly to be told at the most vulnerable time in your life!

Thanks you "Mugs" now we are going to take the one thing you spent your life funding and sell it to fund your care, because we realise we have found yet another way of ripping you off and kicking you in the teeth for being hardworking, honest and decent members of society. We can't afford to look after the likes of you!!!!

Because there are too many lazy idle, good for nothings and criminals who have only been a drain on the society you have worked all you life to support, who we would rather spend the money on, that we got off "mugs like you, to support!

Someone pass the SICK BAG PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

I quite understand Phoenix, no problem.