Different takes on the idea of retirement homes

In school, we learn of a concept called ‘limits’ in calculus. These limits define the constraints of that particular function and ‘tend to’ something. I never quite understood this concept. Why was a limit tending to infinity necessary? Wouldn’t that just mean that there is no limit? I found that the more I thought about it, the lesser it made sense. I, much like most other times, forgot about it as soon as my exams got done. 

I serendipitously found these answers while learning political theory. When we learn of negative liberty, we think of ‘freedom from’. This can be extended to anything but mainly it implies freedom from constraints. All of them. And hence it is dubbed negatively. At the same time, positive liberty deals with questions considering ‘freedom to’. This metaphor can be extended to a greater cause such as that of retirement homes. 

 intention behind choosing to opt for a retirement home determines the nature of its use. If the intention was ‘freedom from’ your parents, it would be a rather negative experience for them. However, if the intention was to give them more ‘freedom to’ socialise with people their age and help them feel empowered and independent, it would fall under the category of positive liberty. This is where limits come in. Is there a limit to the amount freedom you give or take? Shouldn’t this constraint exist to enable them to have their own area of dignity and development? This area is more easily found in places where the elderly feel comfortable to be themselves and have the freedom to express themselves. If this area was found in the very homes where they had been living their entire lives and if they didn’t feel like outsiders, there wouldn’t be a need for old-age homes.

You surround them with so much love that they forget any other feeling. You teach them how to live for themselves again. You remind them that they are still worth living for. You remind them that they’re not second best.

~Vriddhi

Taking care of an elderly one is no walk in the park, there's no doubt about that.Still, it doesn't feel right to the majority to just put their loved ones in a retirement home.This probably had to do with the archaic thinking that only unloved elderlies are put in retirement homes, which is definitely not true.So before you scrap retirement homes off the list, consider the following.

Retirement homes give senior citizens a sense of belonging as they are surrounded by their own age group.Thus, they get to live a burden free life and at the same time enjoying the right care they need, all around.They also get to live in an accident-free zone with improved health care facilities.Sounds like a win to me. 

However, there are a few down sides to this. First off, the cost of retirement homes is off the chart these days.Also, most retirement homes are situated in secluded areas so it might make a senior citizen easily feel homesick.There is also the fact that it is a struggle to get qualified staff members who can care for them adequately.

At the end, it all lies in the  family's hands to decide whether retirement homes are in the best interest of their elderly ones.

- Racheal 

While the above two articles take into account the pros and cons of retirement homes, Nasreen tried to pen down the thoughts of an old woman living in one such retirement home through this beautiful letter. 

A letter to my son


- Nasreen Siddiqui