Families, God Love Them 11. Families, God Love Them –––––––– In the past people realized that the older generation needed a little more help, protection and support as they aged. Not so now. Families hand over care of their elderly or disabled to paid carers while they pursue the a sizable salary in the process of caring for others, giving back to society in a way that will earn them a healthy income. They are relieved of the burden of caring for their own aged, disabled or frail family members while they are well paid for tending to others who are strangers. A Homecare worker whom I know says she visits the home of elderly people whose families never come near them. Then they have a fall or break a bone and the family swoops in saying, ‘You have to go into a home.’ So they do and the family still never comes near them or contacts them by telephone. Such is the age we live in. I saw a television program recently about people who live on the Greek island of Ikarea. It is not uncommon for the inhabitants to live to be a hundred years old or more.
