Growing Old with personhood

Recently it was in the news that a plan to build a nursing home for dementia patients with single rooms facility was shelved because the government said it was unable to subsidise patients in homes with "private rooms". This was despite the findings that dementia patients fare much better when they have their own rooms. Amongst other things it would be easier for them to identify their own room instead of their own hospital bed in the midst of 6 or 8 identical ones. Dementia patients with their own room are also known to be less anxious, irritable and have better sleeping patterns.

In today's ST there is an article calling for a rethink and conversations on remodeling nursing homes in Singapore which currently are more like hospitals focusing on regimented care. This is unlike nursing homes in developed countries like US, UK and Japan where single or twin rooms are the norm. The article went on to describe how the current model results in "depersonalisation, loneliness and diminished quality of life".

On New Year's Day I visited my uncle who is a resident in a nursing home after he suffered a stroke and an attempt to care for him at home failed. I tried to cheer him up recalling old times when we stayed in KL and how well he has led his life as a good provider, a good husband and father. He remarked "What's the use?' (有什么用) and went on to say sadly that one should not live too long. I tried to get him to appreciate that his family visits often and encouraged him to chat with other residents and watch TV to while away the time. Yet even as I said that the surrounding environment casts internal doubt in what I uttered and I felt so unauthentic. Yes I would feel drab too if it was me because there wasn't a single smile on any face of the other 7 residents in the room who were either complaining, sleeping or staring into space. Yes the article was right when it says " the current institutional model of nursing home care can threaten the autonomy and personhood of seniors" where the only semblance of privacy is the bedside drawer.

The authors, a Geriatrician and a professor in Public Health, advocated a more "holistic and humanistic approach grounded in the residents' emotional and socio-psychological needs". I remember in the HK movie 桃姐, the old lady had a stroke and was put up in a nursing facility which was like a shop house in the city. Though very crammed each resident had a very small room, each unique with precious little belongings and momentos, may not be clinically clean but definitely more homely. Looking at the dormitory which housed my uncle, I think it definitely can cater for small little cubicles at least. 

Oh my God when it is my turn I definitely need my own private space to store my favourite toy figurines which I now use for sandplay therapy. Never mind if the room is small and cluttered. At least then I can hold and admire each figurine at my own leisure and relive the old days. I certainly hope to grow old and still be the person that's me.