Getting Old

The past few months have made me fearful of getting old. We moved Jeff's mom out here so she could be closer to us and we could respond to her needs. I've spent some time, not as much as Jeff, in the two facilities that she has occupied and it's not extremely pretty. Our civilization is at a point that the younger generation isn't willing or prepared to house and care for the older generation, but these "facilities" aren't designed to care for someone in a completely dignified manner. Sure they meet basic needs and maybe a little bit more, but we essentially rip an individual form her life or the community that she knows and place her in what is easiest for everyone else.

Having decided that children aren't in our future makes it even scarier. I've been told by a very wise man that one should not have children to take care of them when they get old, but if not them, then who? Jeff is 10 years older than I am and he is a man. I have two things going against me... age and gender.

I was of the mind that the U.S. should seriously consider cutting the greatest expenditure of the Federal Budget (Social Security), but now I see the impact that has on Jeff's mom. These entitlement programs are what take the place of the care the younger generation once provided. I guess it shows what our civilization cares about, or better yet... what we don't care about. The elderly.