We are currently witnessing the politicization of a tragedy that has affected thousands of seniors and families, i.e. people who died in inhuman conditions in CHSLDs, not only from COVID, but also from hunger and thirst, for lack of care . It is deplorable.
Investigations are trying to shed light on decisions that would have led to these dire consequences, in order to prevent such a story from repeating itself. However, this should not benefit any political party, neither the government, nor the opposition.
From this hecatomb in CHSLDs must be born a major project on the elderly in order to focus on dignity once and for all. So that the suffering, the death of these sheltered elders and the mourning of their loved ones are not in vain.
Non-partisan action
If elected officials of different allegiances have been able to unite their voices on the issue of “dying with dignity”, why would it not be possible to reproduce a similar action in order to definitively resolve the crying needs so that we can all grow old in society? dignity ?
Currently, hundreds of retired AREQ volunteers are on the ground asking the 125 deputies of the National Assembly to work together for non-partisan action.
Around what? AREQ has identified 17 reports on the living conditions of seniors since 2000 who are currently sleeping on the shelves of the National Assembly. These reports contain 153 recommendations, of which only 10% have been implemented. Moreover, today we can add 27 new recommendations from the most recent report by the Ombudsperson made public this week.
Let’s stop cramming the elders into the dust as if they were old, ignored reports. Now is the time to act! This is an opportunity for the current government to avoid repeating the mistakes of previous governments which neglected the needs of the elderly, especially the most vulnerable among them who are accommodated in CHSLDs.
The story repeats itself
This year, the AREQ is celebrating its sixty candles. Sixty years defending the rights of the elderly. We have seen it happen, governments. And history repeats itself. New reports and recommendations come in light of the hardships an unpredictable pandemic has inflicted on us.
In this crossroads, we have a choice to make, collectively: act once and for all by putting efforts at the height of the challenges, or continue piling up reports on the shelves until they crack. under the weight of our inactions, like the foundations of our old CHSLDs in disuse.
To live is also to grow old. And, as we will all be seniors one day, we should aspire to age with dignity.