In every community, there are persons who are incapacitated in one way or another. What is our responsibility towards them?
The elderly sick often needs care-giving. While it should be the responsibility of the family members to meet this obligation, sometimes this does not happen. Some say that they should be placed in the “Poor Home”. That is not the solution as the “Poor Home” may be oversubscribed. In any case it is much better that they remain in familiar surroundings where they would have lived their lives and contributed. Churches and community groups sometimes provide some assistance. Another solution could be to make one-year home care experience a requirement to enter the medical professions.
A number of persons with addictions to alcohol and other substances live among us. Because of their addiction, they are unable to manage their living. Many are hard workers yet their bills are not paid. How can they be assisted? Treatment for addiction could return them to normalcy. However, in the absence of this, those who control the finances need to do what is necessary to ensure that they use their resources for their sustenance. Public Assistance is not useful to a drunkard if it is not used to clothe, house, and feed him. Why should the rum shop divert the assistance that the society intends?
Our society has evolved to where the work that family, friends, neighbours, churches, and the state would usually cover, needs to be coordinated by a social worker. It does not mean that we renege on our traditional responsibility, but the social worker would coordinate to ensure that it is done. Professional training is always useful, but a mature caring individual can do this work to complement, and supplement the work.
The lifestyle diseases of Hypertension, Diabetes, and Kidney diseases are putting a strain on our country’s finances and health system. They cause strokes, paralysis, and the need for dialysis. The expenditure of time and resources are disproportional to the rest of our budget. Consequently, prevention should be taught and enforced in our schools and food places. We need to experience the true effect of a wellness revolution. The money saved from prevention can be used in a productive way.
Money management is a skill that is useful to all and should be taught in all our institutions. How we manage ourselves, our homes, our farms, our workplaces, and our country financially will prove useful. Rather than being incapacitated, we would be empowered to rule our destiny.
Anthony G. Stewart, PhD