Changes

When I was very young, I was patted on the head; given money for sweets; teased in a friendly way which was sure to make me giggle!
In adulthood, I was told that I’m too disabled to work. Too disabled to drive a car. Too disabled to marry.
Now, I am an ‘Older Person’. I am fascinated to realise that my disability is no longer the most obvious thing about me. It’s my age! Some people, noticeably among N.H.S. staff are patronising. Speaking to me in a special tone of voice. I feel the need to be extra assertive and try to bring the conversation down to equal terms.
When I was admitted into hospital with food poisoning 3 years ago, I was the youngest by at least 20 years on an old peoples’ ward; and considered to be ‘On my way out’, until I referred myself to a physiotherapist to be treated in readiness to be discharged. I had been kept in bed for a week and was likely to be a little weak. I still had a lot of living to do.
As I move forward into old age I still want the right to be treated equally and to be seen first as a person who happens to be disabled and not so young. Equality is just as valuable to older people. I was horrified to observe how often the staff on my ward held very negative opinions about these people. Older people aren’t always involved in decisions that concern them. Too many assumptions are made about their needs. Abilities and skills are disregarded. I suspect this saves a great deal of time on a busy ward. Our population now has a majority of people over 50. Is this attitude going to get worse? Or can we as a majority win back respect that we were taught to give our elders when we were young?