Elder care in Bondeau

This afternoon I visited an elderly woman who is confined to bed.  I have known her from my first visits to Bondeau.  She and her family are faithful church members.  They are one of the more prosperous families, as they own their own plot of land behind the parish, on which family members have built small houses.  Our elderly lady lives in a tiny but sturdy two room structure with a small front porch.  I arrived to find her small front room filled with people.  There were her grandchildren, great grandchildren, daughter, son-in-law out on the porch, and our parish nurse, Natacha.  “Mama” was on a small bed, barely large enough to hold her.  There were bundles of clothes that she used as pillows.  Her back rest was a small child’s chair turned upside down arranged in such a way that she could lean back in the bed.  After we visited a while, I prayed in English, then we all joined singing familiar church hymns.  Nurse Natacha prayed and then rubbed down “Mama’s” back with a special herbal lotion.  Mama lay back and closed her eyes while her daughter stood over her shooing flies away with a head scarf.

I can’t help but make comparisons as I visit elderly here in Bondeau where the family is always gathered around, friends stop by, and everyone chips in to care for the elderly person.  I visit so many elderly in pristine nursing homes who never see a family member until they are on their death bed.  So alone and lonely!  If only we could have a little of both…better medical care for elderly in Bondeau and more family involvement for elderly in Boca, elderly in both places would have a better end-of-life experience.