Littlewoods building - is perfect for the "aging together" commune in Liverpool
Lately I have been thinking a rather lot about the nature of human community.
It's a theme I return to again and again; humans needing to be in community with one another, especially older people.
In Britain in 2011, few shed any tears over the cruel way the elderly are treated in this country. A new and shocking report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission shows that thousands of old people are being appallingly abused in their own homes by the very individuals employed to care for them.
The report found that good carers are hopelessly over-stretched because of council cutbacks, while bad carers could not care less about their charges and are neglecting, starving, robbing and humiliating those who depend on them.
Invalids are roughly pushed on and off wheelchairs and insulted. Disabled pensioners have food put before them that they can’t reach. On and on it goes, case by harrowing case, a litany of abuse that amounts to a ‘systemic failure’ of care in the home.
The impact of this failure on vulnerable individuals hardly bears thinking about: they suffer depression, stress, tears, frustration; they feel they have been stripped of self-worth and dignity; some are so miserable they want to die.
What makes it so much worse is that this report is just the latest in a shameful catalogue of cruelty.
Over the past year, secretly recorded TV films have revealed similar attitudes in care homes, while the Care Quality Commission reported last month that one in five hospitals was breaking the law over its neglectful treatment of the elderly.
"The commission highlighted the case of a 77-year-old woman left to lie in her own urine for several hours after undergoing major surgery. She died weeks later, her body so full of infection that the funeral directors had to wear biohazard suits.
How do these people who are employed to look after the old in our society sleep at night? Do they think they will never grow old themselves?The sorry truth is that it is not just the professionals who have given up on the elderly. The maltreatment of pensioners by carers goes on only because there is widespread indifference to the fate of the old in society at large.
Old people in our country today are seen not as individuals, but as a burden — a growing mass of drooling, incontinent, helpless and demanding parasites" - wrote Yasmin Alibhai-brown in Daily Mail article Dogs in kennels are treated better than many of Britain’s elderly 25th November 2011
You may think it's exaggerating, but there is no doubting the fact that the elderly are wholly cast as an economic drag on the young and the nation.Medical advances and population trends mean there are more and more old people having to be supported by younger generations.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2065905/Dogs-kennels-treated-better-Britain-s-elderly.html
Thieving carer took £135,000 from widow, 83, blew it on holidays and threatened to burn down her house
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"Aging Together commune"
A group of people sharing the similar interests and age could go in together for the purchase or rent of a property and that even after renovations it might still be cheaper than renting or buying lots of individual dwellings, and that when somebody wanted to move out they could sell their 'portion' to a new member.
The idea, the old people commune, really captured my imagination. I saw a group of older people taking a building and altering it to contain a collection of one or two bedroom units that share common areas - like kitchen, dinning rooms, living areas…garden…a library, a multi-work station, office and IT area, art studio… party rooms..theatre...commune charity shop, exhibition aria...etc.
Group members would contribute -
*effort (scheduled cooking, cleaning of common areas…etc)
*money - (both initially to "buy in" and monthly to cover costs of cable, internet, electricity, water..etc).
Meals would be prepared for whoever is around for that meal and wants to eat. Those cooking would make food for people who noted on a sign-up sheet that they would be in for the meal.
There are things that would need to be ensured. The group would need a pretty clearly defined social contract; rooms would need to provide sufficient "private" space and amenities.
Group members would elect a "bill payer" semi-annually who would collect the monthly bill portion and pay the communal bills. People would still have person bank accounts, retirement plans, person wealth and private space.
What is the most important things for the people of any age:
social relationships (contact with family and friends),
cultural and leisure activities (for example going to cinema or theatre),
civic activities (for example membership of a local interest group, voluntary work, voting),
basic services (for example health services, shops),
neighbourhood (for example safety and friendliness of local people),
financial products (for example bank account, pension),
material goods (for example consumer durables, central heating)
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The best Retirement Community so far
How looks like a small apartment for elderly people inside:
Holland
Retirement Living Centerville, MA
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Harbor Point at Centerville offers seniors spacious, well-appointed apartments and the option of an array of supportive services in a comfortable, secure environment. We have a variety of floor plans ranging in size and layout, with lovely community rooms and outdoor spaces for all to enjoy. All of our apartments have a thoughtful choice of fixtures and finishes which make Harbor Point at Centerville a great place to call home.| Floor Plans | |
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| Studio Apartment A, One Bathroom | View Floorplan |
| Studio Apartment B, One Bathroom | View Floorplan |
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