Aging

A common criticism of our society is that the elderly are not treated with the reverence and respect they deserve. Imagine a society where older people are able to live out their lives with dignity, security, and independence. The Scandinavians call their approach—developed over a 50-year period— “Open Old Age Care.” Senior citizens are encouraged and helped to live their mature years in their own homes, instead of being “warehoused” in nursing homes.

One of the key features in Scandinavian open care is the “home helper,” who assumes chores the resident can no longer perform—housekeeping, cleaning, shopping, cooking, dressing and personal hygiene. Helpers are mainly young people—many of them students, and middle-aged persons. These “home helpers,” who receive varying degrees of training, are paid by local municipalities and are considered to be municipal employees. This approach to home care produces a sense of independence in people—and with it pride, even a healthy vanity.

Interesting is the great demand among older women living alone for hairdressers and manicurists. As a sign of respect, home helpers in Sweden are trained 6 Aging not to patronize elderly patients by calling them by their first names—it must be Mr. Larsen and Mrs. Nillson. —Szulc, T., Parade Magazine “Do not let your love be a pretense...have a profound respect for each other...if any of the Saints are in need, you must share with them: and you should make hospitality your special care” (Rom.

12:0,10,13). “It is precisely the parts of the body that seem to be the weak- est which are the indispensable ones” (I Cor. 12:22).