(Originally appeared in Getting Notions column, www.everymonday.ie October, 2009)

The “Fair Deal” for nursing homes is a welcome development but, asks Margaret E. Ward, is removing people from their home and community really the best solution?

As we get older, we all worry about becoming a burden on our families. We ask ourselves:  “What happens if I get sick and can’t work – or if I die unexpectedly – who will look after my family, partner, pet, dependent relative?” It’s such a concern for Western societies that several very lucrative industries: insurance, nursing homes and care support services have developed to diminish our anxieties.

Cultural compassion
Many cultures never have to ask themselves these questions because they know the answer: their family, community and friends will look after them and their dependents if things go wrong. To them, it’s the natural progression of community life and responsibilities.

In Ireland, communities are in disarray. Our society’s financial pressures mean families are working harder then ever and often both man and woman, adult children and grandparents work full time. This leaves very few people in the community to look after those who can no longer help themselves. If we’re lucky and have the funds we can pay for someone to mind us in our homes. It’s not ideal, but it’s all we have at the moment.

What if we imagined something new that is good for everyone? Research into long life and happiness has revealed a few interesting truths: regular exercise, mental stimulation and small meals that are high in fruit and vegetable are all beneficial. One of the newer findings involves community. People who feel they belong to a community or group do better than those who are isolated from others. It’s important for all of us to have a purpose or a sense of place.

Living longer, healthier lives

The beautiful island of Sardinia, between the coast of Italy and Africa, has among the highest population of people over 100 in the world. One man in the island’s Ogliastra villages lived to 112 and, until his death, was the oldest man in the world. He was not alone. Researchers found a rate of 90 centenarians out of a population of 18,000. So, one in every 200 people in the region has lived to celebrate 100. In the United States, the comparable figure is about 50 lower with only one person out of every 10,000 alive at 100.

A traditional Sardinia greeting, akentannos means may you live to 100 years. Luigi Ferrucci of the US National Institute on Aging and chief researcher of the Sardinian study said: “These are people who not only have a very long life, but they are healthy up to a very old age. These are not people who’ve gotten diseased or dementia at 70 years old and somehow lived another 30 years.”

Scientists have been studying places like this Italian island, parts of Japan and California to see what makes them live such long, healthy lives. Diet certainly contributes a part but community seems to be a big part of it, too.

These sprightly older people are part of families, groups of friends, community events and more. Often they do physical work from an early age until well beyond retirement age – sometimes working into their 70s and 80s. Irish research has also clearly indicated that individuals who remain in employment past the retirement age of 65 are healthier and happier. Those who live longest are engaged in their communities and as such, they stay physically and mentally active.
Surely the research shows that we have it wrong? Nursing homes are not the best answer. Community care of incapacitated older people is more natural and humane than the institutionalisation of nursing homes and hospitals.

Yes, we can argue the resources are not there but if, as a society, we made this a priority then government policies and higher employment in the care sector would have to happen. We need more funding to help people stay at home and in the community.

Useful links
Sardinian centegenarians: http://www.benhills.com/books/IslandOfTheAncients/index.html

Advice on living beyond 100
http://ezinearticles.com/?Exploring-Longevity-Among-Centenarians&id=2565275

http://www.bluezones.com/move/144-how-to-move-like-a-centenarian

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