Eldery People Are Amazing

I work in a nursing home and I have the privilege of working with elderly patients. I am responsible for total patient care; feeding, changing clothes, assisting with using the bathroom. In other words I am a certified nursing assistant. I love my job_ not because of the hardship that it entails. I love my job because I interact with these elderly patients. You never know the individual you have in your midst, until you talk to them. Although this statement stands true for all human beings, it does not overlook elderly people.

Usually, elderly people cope with a lot of chronic body changes, often times due to disease and sickness, or falls. For example, Ms. B. A patient at my job who most of my co-workers do not look forward to dealing with. This is because Ms. B is very bitter. She is paralysed from her neck down and as a result, unable to do anything for herself. One day, I had the honor of caring for this woman, and just by talking to her, my compassion for her grew more and more. As I fed her I noticed her facial expression, as to say, she does not like the food. I asked her if everything was OK? She told me that hated the food! She then began to tell me about her life before she became crippled. Ms. B, who began cooking at the age of 8, was a top cook at and elementary school for over 40 years. She was very proud of that accomplishment at the school. Every student looked forward to lunch while she was employed. She really enjoyed her job as a cook. While Ms. B and I were talking, she mentioned to me that she had a recipe book, but because she has been at the facility so long, her house was foreclosed on and she lost everything. That was devastating. I saw the look in her eyes as she told me this little story about her life and I knew that this amazing woman, was coping with a lot. I was privilege to be caring for her.

Ms. B is not the only patient that I have enjoyed working with. In fact all off my patients have amazing stories. Some were singers, models, actors, actresses, officers, marines, and more. It is only by talking to my patients that I am able to really know who I am caring for. Elderly people are amazing. But we would often times take it for granted until we talk with them.

Should Edlerly Citizens be Placed Behind the Wheel?

There is a rising issue that is plaguing the minds of drivers today. Should elderly citizens be placed the wheels? Studies on age-related driving concerns has shown that at around the age of 65, drivers face an increasing risk of being involved in a vehicle crash. The state of Florida should adapt mandatory testing of drivers over the age of 65. After the age of 75, the risk of fatal accidents among elderly drivers increases sharply! I believe that there are (unfortunately) many age related disease that impacts the cognitive and judgemental thinking of the elderly community at large. Two primarily behavioral that possibly contribute to the high risk are; poor judgement in making turns, (esp. left turns), decrease capability to quickly change behavior in an unexpected changing event.

I took a small survey with some of my colleagues posing the question "What are some of the most common habits that they experience with elderly drivers?" The most common answer was that the speed in which elderly drivers tend to drive is what below the speed limit. This can be hazardous for other drivers, as well as causing the traffic to slow down drastically. Another common hazard made common among some elderly drivers, according to my peers, is drifting. This can be very dangerous both drivers causing accidents and injuries. Other habits include irrational judgement when changing lanes and vision impairment; unable to read signs or road directions. These are all good reasons why Florida should hasten to mandate a law that test drivers capability at the age of 65 and above.

From an elderly perspective, I would want to make sure that I am qualified to drive on the road. I would feel safer in an automatic machine knowing that I am not a risk factor for myself and other drivers, due to health impairments. I think it is selfish and inconciderate for anyone (whether elderly or not) who knows that they are not qualified for opporating a vehicle and choose. Not only are you putting others at risk for sever accidents, but this also increase the risk for yourself. Drivers are to be wise and considerate. If drivers choose not to exercise their right to make the right choice, then the state is obligated to make steps towards risk control. By mandating a law that elderly driver be tested after a certain age, Florida will have a better control on the risk factors that leads to more accidents on the road.