Tag elderly people, says science minister - Page 2

MargaretR · 19-04-2007, 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeljack

question ....if they were so bad why didn't you do something ?

We moved her once when we found out they were not catering for her diabetes- 2nd place was better but she was the only one there with her mental faculties. My home was tiny with a steep staircase. He had emptied her flat within 7days of her leaving it. His wife didnt want her in their 3 bedroomed bungalow, and I had no means to buy one.

steeljack · 19-04-2007, 19:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by [email protected]

We moved her once when we found out they were not catering for her diabetes- 2nd place was better but she was the only one there with her mental faculties. My home was tiny with a steep staircase. He had emptied her flat within 7days of her leaving it. His wife didnt want her in their 3 bedroomed bungalow, and I had no means to buy one.

Sorry Margaret, for the tone of the previous post, it wasn't meant to be offensive, hope you didn't take it that way ( a case of mouth before brain) , as previous poster said dealing with what to do with an increasing aging population is something that should be being looked at now . It seems to me we are extending the physical lifespans thru new medicines and stuff but I dont think we have are having the same success with extending mental facalties (old age senility) .

moonshiner · 19-04-2007, 19:46

Well i dont care what some jumped up minister says NO ONE is putting atag around my dads leg. these things were brought out to try and control the scouts no are nearest and dearest

West Ender · 19-04-2007, 19:57

I can just imagine what my mother's reaction would have been if you'd tried to put a tag on her. She lived alone for 16 years, after my dad died, and though her body deteriorated her mind was as sharp at 91 as mine is now.

She had to have carers in her last few years, which incidentally she had to pay for, as she had severe arthritis and couldn't manage cooking and cleaning (though nothing ever really got dirty) and eventually found it difficult to dress herself without help. The one thing she never lost was her dignity. She refused, point blank, to even contemplate leaving her home. Even selling the house and buying a bungalow nearby was not an option she would consider - she got a stair-lift instead. It was my sorrow, and my guilt, that I lived too far away from her to be able to take care of her in the way I would have liked to but I couldn't move to her location and she wouldn't move to mine.

We tend to forget that even those who suffer severe dementia have their lucid times and knowing that their faculties are often impaired, as many of them do, is distressing for them. Though it might be done with the best of intentions the imposition of being tagged could cause a great deal distress to an old person. They may be physically infirm, they may be mentally confused, but is that any reason to take away their dignity? Never mind tagging, we (the country) should spend more money on providing care for them and protecting and cherishing them as they once did for us.

moonshiner · 19-04-2007, 20:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonshiner

Well i dont care what some jumped up minister says NO ONE is putting atag around my dads leg. these things were brought out to try and control the scouts no are nearest and dearest

I ment scroots not scout

Margaret Pilkington · 19-04-2007, 20:29

My Mum is bad on her legs, and we, the family have tried numerous times to get her to move somewhere that would be easier for her......but she refuses point blank. All her memories are in her house... She may be physically frail but she is as sharp as a pin......she wants to live out her life in her own way, doing what she wants when she wants. Who are we to compromise the dignity of our old people...just because they are old.
I would ask the science minister if that is what he wants for his parents...and I bet you any money he will say no...he probably has the money to have his folks cared for professionally.

WillowTheWhisp · 19-04-2007, 22:48

When I'm older and losing even more of my marbles I'd rather be tagged in a dignified way so that I can be found if I wander off than to posibly freeze to death wandering aimlessly with loved ones frantically trying to find me.

I don't think it's about taking away someone's dignity at all. What is more dignified - to be found quickly by being traceable or to sit shivering in a park in just nightie because you can't remember where you live and no-one knows where you are?

I don't for a moment believe that the idea is to use great chunky ankle clamps or anything large and undignified. As I said earlier, a simple subcutaneous chip which no-one would even be aware of would serve the purpose. It can be done for animals so why not vulnerable human beings?

steeljack · 19-04-2007, 23:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

I don't for a moment believe that the idea is to use great chunky ankle clamps or anything large and undignified. As I said earlier, a simple subcutaneous chip which no-one would even be aware of would serve the purpose. It can be done for animals so why not vulnerable human beings?

Willow , I wasn't aware that the implanted chips worked as a tranmitter, I thought they were used on 'lost' animals as a way of identifing ownership only after the animals has been picked up and scanned at the animal shelter, think simlar technology is being implemented by various militarys around the world in troops to quickly identify blood group etc. in case of battlefield injury ( various elite German divisions did something similar in WW2 , but they tattooed the blood group under the arm-pit)

WillowTheWhisp · 20-04-2007, 08:03

You may well be right Steeljack. Probably not the exact same chips as for lost dogs then but there are things that can give out an inaudible signal to a device that's seeking them aren't there?

I mean an ankle band wouldn't work anyway if you had someone like my friend's father because he'd just take it off. It would have to be less obtrusive and more permanent in nature than that.

Margaret Pilkington · 20-04-2007, 13:50

Well, Tags won't stop your loved one from getting into some pretty unsafe situations...so you might be able to find them, but that doesn't automatically mean they will be safe if the wander around.....especially if the wandering around is done after dark. My mother in law had some form of demential and was found at the Co-op in Clayton in the middle of the night..she was in her night dress, it was the middle of winter, nothing on her feet...she wanted a pint of milk....even though there was milk in her fridge. In the end for her own safety we were compelled to put her into residential care....it was heart breaking, and in her moments of lucidity she was upset that she was no longer in her own home. I don't know what the answers are, especially as the population is increasingly elderly. I just know that I would not want to be tagged.....I associate tagging with bad lads.

Doug · 20-04-2007, 14:10

I can see the merit of the idea in certain circumstances, but we would be better off providing better care in the first place. Things like this and other ideas like Tele Care aren’t the answer.

Less · 20-04-2007, 14:31

Hello is that the police tag line?
(recorded voice) Hello you have contacted the police tag line if the person you wish to trace is a neighbour, PRESS 1.

If the person you wish to trace is a relative that you are only mildly concerned about PRESS 2.

If the person is known to disappear for days on end and comes back smelling of beer, DON'T PRESS ANYTHING IT'S YOUR HUSBAND, YOU NEED RELATE!

If the person has gone missing with one of our tags and we don't manage to find them you will be responsible for reimbursing the full cost of the missing piece of equipment, PRESS 3........hello? HELLOOO? No they've rung off again!

slinky · 20-04-2007, 15:42

personally after the day at work I have just had......I say TAG them ALL and stick em with ASBO's

Or TAG me!! so at least when I am being battered in a corner people can find me lol.

garinda · 20-04-2007, 15:45

Don't forget that a tight fitting ankle tag might result in a deep vein thrombosis for an elderly relative.

Something like this sporty helmet, would lessen the risk, and still allow you to monitor the movements of a loved one.

Doug · 20-04-2007, 15:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by slinky

personally after the day at work I have just had......I say TAG them ALL and stick em with ASBO's

Or TAG me!! so at least when I am being battered in a corner people can find me lol.

I thought you'd already had a tag?

**** don't tell me you are walking around free.......