Sign in
  • Home
  • Perspectives
  • Articles
  • Columns
  • Platform
  • Poetry
    • Literature
  • Shop
    • Cart
    • My account
  • Give
    • Donation Confirmation
  • Contribute
Sign in
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Privacy Policy
Password recovery
Recover your password
Search
48.3 F
Los Angeles
Monday, February 18, 2019
  • Sign in / Join
  • Contact MMN
  • en English
    af Afrikaanssq Albanianam Amharicar Arabichy Armenianaz Azerbaijanieu Basquebe Belarusianbn Bengalibs Bosnianbg Bulgarianca Catalanceb Cebuanony Chichewazh-CN Chinese (Simplified)zh-TW Chinese (Traditional)co Corsicanhr Croatiancs Czechda Danishnl Dutchen Englisheo Esperantoet Estoniantl Filipinofi Finnishfr Frenchfy Frisiangl Galicianka Georgiande Germanel Greekgu Gujaratiht Haitian Creoleha Hausahaw Hawaiianiw Hebrewhi Hindihmn Hmonghu Hungarianis Icelandicig Igboid Indonesianga Irishit Italianja Japanesejw Javanesekn Kannadakk Kazakhkm Khmerko Koreanku Kurdish (Kurmanji)ky Kyrgyzlo Laola Latinlv Latvianlt Lithuanianlb Luxembourgishmk Macedonianmg Malagasyms Malayml Malayalammt Maltesemi Maorimr Marathimn Mongolianmy Myanmar (Burmese)ne Nepalino Norwegianps Pashtofa Persianpl Polishpt Portuguesepa Punjabiro Romanianru Russiansm Samoangd Scottish Gaelicsr Serbianst Sesothosn Shonasd Sindhisi Sinhalask Slovaksl Slovenianso Somalies Spanishsu Sudanesesw Swahilisv Swedishtg Tajikta Tamilte Teluguth Thaitr Turkishuk Ukrainianur Urduuz Uzbekvi Vietnamesecy Welshxh Xhosayi Yiddishyo Yorubazu Zulu
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy Policy
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
Media Monitors Network (MMN) Media Monitors Network (MMN)
Media Monitors Network (MMN) Media Monitors Network (MMN)
  • Home
  • Perspectives
    • Myanmar/Burma Little hope for Rohingya IDPs
      Perspectives

      The Myth of ‘Bengali Migration’ to Arakan

      Faisal Mosque - Pakistan
      Perspectives

      Pakistan: How to Change Political Culture of Corruption and Rebuild the…

      Disappearing Palestine
      Perspectives

      In Hebron, Israel removes the last restraint on its settlers’ reign…

      No to Sexism Racism Homophobia Xenophobia
      Perspectives

      Racism in our time: Can it be defeated?

      Jerusalem Israel Palestine Dome of The Rock Golden Dome
      Perspectives

      Clover Sellout to Apartheid Israel Faces Resistance

  • Articles
    • Man studying religious book
      Articles

      Ishmael and Isaac: An Essay on the Divergent Moral Economies of…

      Mahmoud Abbas
      Articles

      May Your Home Be Destroyed

      Netanyahu Lighting Hanukah Candles with His Wife and Sons
      Articles

      Bibi’s Son or: Three Men in a Car

      The Map of Greater Israel
      Articles

      The Man Who Jumped

      West Bank - Palestine
      Articles

      Cry, Beloved Country

  • Columns
    • United States Capitol Building, Washington, D.C.
      Columns

      Game Over!

      Bernie Sanders
      Columns

      Bernie 2020 Campaign Has Corporate Democrats Running Scared

      Pope Francis
      Columns

      Why the Events Surrounding Pope Francis’ UAE Visit Were So Important

      Democrats
      Columns

      As the 2020 Presidential Contest Begins, Democrats Need to Refocus

      Disappearing Palestine
      Columns

      Michelle Alexander Has Opened a Door, We Must Work to Keep…

  • Platform
    • Hanukkah Lights
      Platform

      Hanukkah is not hypocrisy

      The Washington Post
      Platform

      “Preemptive war could risk millions of casualties. But….”

      Platform

      When they shout: "We strongly condemn…"

      68
      Platform

      Why Iran won’t attack Israel

      Platform

      Is One Iraqi’s Self-Hatred Newsworthy?

  • Poetry
    • Literature
  • Shop
    • Cart
    • My account
  • Give
    • Donation Confirmation
  • Contribute
Home Perspectives Canadians need a bill of rights to protect Seniors
  • Perspectives

Canadians need a bill of rights to protect Seniors

By
Mohamed Elmasry
-
October 22, 2004
Share
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
Pinterest
WhatsApp
Linkedin
ReddIt
Email
Print
Tumblr
Telegram
StumbleUpon
VK
Digg
LINE
Viber

    Recently James E. McGreevey, governor of New Jersey signed an Executive Order creating a seniors Bill of Rights “to support the independence, dignity and choice of citizens as they age.” If it is good for New Jersey, it must be good for Canada.

    Ever since turning 60 last Christmas Eve, I have been increasingly worried about my future as a member of Canada’s fastest-growing segment of the population.

    In my case these worries are not financial, but stem from the fact that this country as yet has no legislation against the emotional and psychological abuse of seniors.

    Canada has no "Senior Aid Society" parallel to that for children, for example, and no Seniors’ Bill of Rights.

    Worst of all, we live in a culture where the elderly among us are collectively considered a liability, not an asset.

    In 2001, an estimated 4 million Canadians were aged 65 and older; this was a 67 per cent rise over just two decades earlier. By 2020, the number of us at 65 years or over is expected to hit some 6.5 million, rising to an estimated 9 million in 2040. By that time, senior citizens will account for more than 20% of all Canadians.

    No wonder governments want to abolish mandatory retirement! If enough of those coming millions could co-operate by dying on the job, it would ease future strain on the Canada Pension Plan.

    According to Health Canada, most seniors are capable of living on their own. But some 7% of those 65 and over now live in long-term supervised care facilities.

    This could translate into more than half-a-million seniors in active care by 2020 and it is these elderly Canadians who could be especially vulnerable to abuse — financially, physically, mentally and spiritually — by families, professional care-givers, even total strangers. They have little or no protection now, and could face having even less, or none, in the future.

    "Warehousing" or "parking" aged parents in nursing homes seems to be a prevailing habit of North American culture.

    This has to change.

    Any Canadian who brags or jokes about "getting rid" of Dad, Mom, dotty Aunt Sally, or hard-of-hearing Uncle Joe should be ashamed.

    But our government, which now provides so few resources to combat the creeping malaise of seniors’ neglect, should be equally ashamed. Government could instead be part of the solution by offering financial incentives to immediate and extended families (similar to the child tax allowance) who want to take care of their elderly members at home.

    When the poignant and powerful Emmy Award-winning CBC film Rage Against the Darkness, aired last month, it highlighted — mainly in seniors’ own voices — the difficult issue of whether or not to institutionalize those unable to live alone.

    What is still missing, however, is any indication that a national debate will emerge on this urgent subject. I hope I am not alone in believing that a Seniors’ Bill of Rights should be debated now and brought to the forefront of Canadian consciousness with the same passion and intensity that we, as a nation, have invested in campaigns to protect the unborn, our children, or the welfare of animals.

    It is profoundly depressing for any dependent individual to have to live 24 hours a day with strangers who are in the same age group. Seniors with very different physical or mental abilities are usually compelled to live side-by-side with no regard for their emotional or intellectual needs, making some nursing homes worse than prisons. At least in prison you know you have a good chance of getting out alive.

    Seniors in Canada also have little or no protection against those who want to convert them from one religion to another. Any form of religious compulsion should be strictly forbidden by a Canadian Seniors’ Bill of Rights. Accessibility to clergy of their choice should be provided by families.

    The financial and care-giving responsibilities of families toward their elder members should be fully codified in law. Education programs in schools could help prepare future generations at an early age for cultivating and nurturing multi-generational families. Having one’s elders living in their midst should not only be regarded as the "right thing to do" but also be a “cool” investment in the future of those who themselves will be elders one day.

    Economically, seniors are often targeted as a lucrative consumer group because they often have accumulated the money to spend on a variety of goods and services. But because many lack the mental alertness to make sound judgments, they are also vulnerable to scams and fraud.

    Some, like children, do need protection against high-pressure sales pitches for everything from home repairs, to investments, to medications. While it is difficult to regulate the free market, we have done it for minor-age children; it is time to consider doing the same for seniors.

    The bottom line is that if we move as a country to protect our seniors, we will collectively enhance the human net worth of our society, seniors and all.

    ========================================

    * First appeared in The Kitchener Waterloo Record, Canada

    Did you like this article?

       

    Awesome, share it:

    Share Tweet Google Plus LinkedIn

    Thanks!

    Thanks for getting in touch with us.

    Click here (New window) to subscribe to our Newsletter

    • TAGS
    • abolish
    • about
    • abuse
    • according
    • account
    • against
    • alive
    • alone
    • American
    • among
    • another
    • award
    • because
    • believing
    • brought
    • campaigns
    • Canada
    • canadian
    • canadians
    • chance
    • change
    • child
    • children
    • choice
    • Christmas
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Google+
    Pinterest
    WhatsApp
    Linkedin
    ReddIt
    Email
    Print
    Tumblr
    Telegram
    StumbleUpon
    VK
    Digg
    LINE
    Viber
      Previous articleGo sing where the sun never shines, George
      Next articleEuropean Trade Agreements, Human Rights, and Palestine
      Mohamed Elmasry

      Dr. Mohamed Elmasry is Professor Emeritus of Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo; founder and past president, The Canadian Islamic Congress and Editorial Board member, The Canadian Charger . He contributed this article to Media Monitors Network (MMN) from Ontario, Canada.

      RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

      Myanmar/Burma Little hope for Rohingya IDPs
      Perspectives

      The Myth of ‘Bengali Migration’ to Arakan

      Faisal Mosque - Pakistan
      Perspectives

      Pakistan: How to Change Political Culture of Corruption and Rebuild the Future?

      Disappearing Palestine
      Perspectives

      In Hebron, Israel removes the last restraint on its settlers’ reign of terror

      MMN @ Google Play Store MMN @ Amazon Appstore

      MMN @ TwitterMMN @ FacebookMMN Feed

      Newsletter

      LATEST

      United States Capitol Building, Washington, D.C.

      Game Over!

      James Zogby - February 16, 2019
      Myanmar/Burma Little hope for Rohingya IDPs

      The Myth of ‘Bengali Migration’ to Arakan

      February 16, 2019
      Faisal Mosque - Pakistan

      Pakistan: How to Change Political Culture of Corruption and Rebuild the Future?

      February 15, 2019

      MOST POPULAR

      The Incredible Shrinking Healthcare Reform

      August 5, 2009

      Palestine: A new conundrum?

      June 15, 2007

      Individualism and Child neglect

      December 22, 2005

      Like every other nation in the world

      May 8, 2002
      Load more

      EDITOR PICKS

      United States Capitol Building, Washington, D.C.

      Game Over!

      February 16, 2019
      Myanmar/Burma Little hope for Rohingya IDPs

      The Myth of ‘Bengali Migration’ to Arakan

      February 16, 2019
      Faisal Mosque - Pakistan

      Pakistan: How to Change Political Culture of Corruption and Rebuild the...

      February 15, 2019

      POPULAR POSTS

      167

      The Origin of Freemasonry: The Crusaders & Templars

      April 23, 2003

      Sharon to Peres: We Control America

      November 20, 2001
      29

      Afghanistan, the Taliban and the United States

      May 2, 2001

      POPULAR CATEGORY

      • Perspectives13431
      • Columns1130
      • Articles859
      • Platform37
      • Poetry12
      • Literature6
      Media Monitors Network (MMN)
      ABOUT US
      Media Monitors Network (MMN) is a non-profit, non-partial and non-political platform for those serious Media Contributors and Observers who crave to know and like to help to prevail the whole truth about current affairs, any disputed issue or any controversial issue by their voluntarily contributions with logic, reason and rationality.
      Contact us: [email protected]
      FOLLOW US
      • About MMN
      • Disclaimer
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Contact
      © Copyright © 2000 - MMN International Inc. All rights reserved.
      Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
      ResponsiveVoice-NonCommercial licensed under 95x15
      MORE STORIES
      Nelson Mandela Statue - South African Embassy

      Piercing the Antisemitism veil by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA)

      December 11, 2018

      The global debt crisis is the handiwork of the super rich

      August 2, 2011
      Edit with Live CSS
      Save
      Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete.