Way to Russia Talk Lounge

e · VIP Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 654

I don't think this issue deviated from the original topic. If you look back on the thread, Polska brought the issue of euthanizing the elderly --a pertient issue considering that, as I mentioned, the old will outnumber the young and countries like Russia wont have the funds or the resources to handle all of these elderly. They might consider rescinding the "live at all costs" issue that Cyndy brought up. Polska went into the morals and ethics behind it including the "live at all costs"which is really related to religion more than anything else.

cyndy22 · Posted: Thu May 12, 2005 11:45 pm Post subject:

I gather from Vic that the majority of elderly folks in Russia do get cared for one way or another by family members. Of course it is not an easy situation for anyone. I remember when my Polish babcha came to live with us. My father was in hospital at the time because of serious mechanical injury. My mother did her best but it would take a saint to appease my grandmother! This arranmgement did not last more than one month in our household. But you never met my Bobcha and my mom!! Laughing

Jutrzenkapolska · VIP Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 534

Where they anything like my mom and babcia? Because Mother Theresa wouldn't have stood taking care of my grandmother.

Which is no excuse for her family all but abandoning her, of course.

cyndy22 · Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 2:06 am Post subject:

True enough polska!
Some elderly people even if they are family members, older respected generation can be quite cantankerous, stubborn, opinionated and downright annoying. Ya love em and hate em isn't that the truth? No, it's far from easy taking care of people whether they are infants, siblings, or parents and grand parents. Society now places far more demand on work and personal leisure. Sadly, I-MHO, family committments take second seat. And older people recognize this dilemna and do not want to burden family. I gotta think that this is no good and no way to care for people we love, even if the people we love are problematic.

Jutrzenkapolska · VIP Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 534

I couldn't agree more. Sad

It's thanks to this dilemma that my aunt has a job.Living with a person who hires herself out to do other people's filial responsibility for them, you hear alot of sad stories about the elderly (or disabled or terminally ill) being neglected. Crying or Very sad

I'm betting that being a social worker, you have to see this all the time. Sad

cyndy22 · Posted: Fri May 13, 2005 10:54 pm Post subject:

I worked as a social worker for over 10 years and did work with alot of people and families with a wide range of social, economic, health and other personal problems. While I liked the work and doing what I could to help people get services they needed, there was alot of frustration in working with systems and sometimes the people themselves. I tend to get over involved and that is not good. And as you know I can be rather outspoken and on more than a few occassions I ruffled feathers of various administrators. Thus I changed my profession and have been working as a grant writer for the past 10 years. With my son now in school, I have been hoping to find a school social worker/counselor position. This way I could work under my son's school year schedule and have summers off! I got my certification and license in this but the jobs are not there in my area. I love kids and hope to eventually work in public schools with middle school or high school kids. I would also settle for primary grades. This topic makes me wonder what jobs and work is like in Russia. Perhaps a new thread?

Jutrzenkapolska · VIP Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 534

I was surprised when you revealed you were a social worker Very Happy

I was like "Isn't that a job where you have to get along with everyone? Deal with mountains of bureacracy and swallow bs? Not put up any fights? Grapple with difficult people!? Help your clients without making them feel you are intruding and minding their buisness? That's not for our Cyndy!"

But I can totally imagine you as a school counselor.You'd be better than the slackers at my school in charge of our futures. And our school pychologists are really nice and well-intentioned but turned out to be not very helpful.

cyndy22 · Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 4:36 am Post subject:

I like to think out of the box and you're right in some ways. But I suspect the first social workers were mavericks.`I know that I have an edge and sometimes people are umcomfortable when I say things. But I don't think that so called helping professionals or any person really, does anyone any good when they try to appease everyone and avoid issues and problems. Better to be honest and try to understand the truth of things than shove things under a rug.

Jutrzenkapolska · VIP Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 534

You are right.But it doesn't make your job any less stressful Smile

.

Jutrzenkapolska · VIP Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 534

Oh and about elderly people, this could just be my imagination but it seems that being ditched by your family is most likely to happen to widows.

One, because they have no husband to protect them and look out for them anymore.And also because having a spouse of many years die late in life is one of the most stressful things imaginable and they were heartbroken and didn't quite move on.But also because that's the hard fate of a single, unmarried older woman in a country like Poland...

cyndy22 · Posted: Sat May 14, 2005 5:56 pm Post subject:

Women have longer life expectancy, so more women live well into their later years. I'm not sure what the life expectancy is in Russia however.

Jutrzenkapolska · VIP Joined: 16 Sep 2004 Posts: 534

It's 55-65 for men. Very Happy

Guess why.

I'm still against euthanasia, btw.