I often think that we dont have respect for the aged. Only this week someone of 98 years of age has been evicted from her property in Southampton because she was deemed to be a nuisance by the local authority, which is a craven mass of political correctness and cringe-making obfuscation. Not one of the neighbours had the guts to find out what had driven this woman to her actions, or to make friends with her, preferring instead the path of demonisation. I attach in this blog (one of my increasingly infrequent blogs) an eloquent piece written by one of my clients for advocacy; it illustrates well the way we treat our aged and ageing population.
Ageing is not a disease. People over 60 are not unwell; they are simply alive and living, the same as everyone else. But they need to be included in the social structure and not alienated, or evicted from their accommodation at the whim of nasty neighbours.
Here is the piece to which I allude:-
To Whom It May Concern
January 2010 Hampshire UK
Sir/Madam
My general comments are guided by the Green Paper; Keen & Bell 2009 and JRF, 2009; National Development Team for Inclusion 2009.
I live in an on site warden conbtrolled council run accommodation collectively for both elderly and younger aged residents both male and female. I do not enjoy a high expectation of a future better life even though my support needs are not considered excessive.
During the past six months the place where I live has experienced two incidents of serious fire hazard - the first incident caused by a flat dweller who had a kitchen fire and the second incident caused by a fire in the rubbish disposal bins which are housed within the accommodation block - both fire hazards were sounded by alarms - the first fire alarm incident occured on a Sunday morning and involved the fire service with emergency warden call-out and the second alarm incidenbt occured on a weekday morning at 02.45 hours and also involved the fire service with emergency warden call-out.
Directly as a result of the above explained incidents the quality of my life has now verey seriously diminished and I dont think I qualify as having a high expectation of a better life - at least not while I live in fear of becoming a victim of fire hazard and experience wardens who are in denial
I write this communication without identifying myself because I know that Wardens and Housing Officials collectively liase with each other and they have a tendency to single out complaining Tenants as ‘wingers’ and 'arrogant'. Wardens tend to complain to Housing Officials that a complaining Tenant is also a‘nuisance’ and the Tenant should be made to feel so uncomfortable such that the complaining Tenant might loose heart and voluntarily move elsewhere (if such be possible), or worse be so tramatised as to consider suicide as an only option. (Godfrey et al, 2004; Horton, 2009)’
My reason for remaining anonymous is to prevent this happening to me and believe it or not Wardens are very, very, very skilled at compiling ‘Reports’ about Tenants whom they perceive as ‘difficult’ or in my case to even quote as “arrogant” (Keen & Bell, 2009).
I will never feel Included while I suffer at the hands of professional younger
women who bully old retired tenants (JRF, 2009; National Development Team for Inclusion 2009).
Lastly, the fact that I withhold my identity is alienating for me, but what other
options do I have. Trust is gone - for me my back is against the wall and the
‘horror’ is I know that Ageism will live-on through this new decade.
Yours sincerely
Name and address withheld
(for fear of retribution)
