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A Sense of Denial Emerges as Europe Abuses Its Elderly

The torrid heat wave that rolled over Western Europe in recent weeks uncovered a massive sense of denial that any special precautions might be needed to take care of the fragile elderly. This denial, this lack of feeling and subsequent lack of any special provisions, seemingly permeated the population, from high government officials, landlords, hospital staffs, right down to seniors’ family members themselves.

It was vacation time, and who could be bothered about the elderly? The fragile old, many times, were left to shift for themselves. This was very evident, particularly in vacation-bound France. There, absolutely nothing is allowed to get in the way of the annual vacation, not even grandma and grandpa.

All this lack of feelings and special provisions led to massive deaths. In France, the secretary of state for the aged, Hubert Falco, acknowledged that there were more than 11,000 heat-related deaths, mostly elderly.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the heat wave in France “caused morgues and funeral homes to overflow with bodies, overwhelmed hospitals and prompted painful soul-searching about France’s attitude about the elderly.”

The Journal continued, “Some health workers said the medical system fell short because of a law that restricts France’s work week to 35 hours, which led to staff shortages. … Other critics blamed families for abandoning elderly relatives at home while they took August vacations.”

French President Jacques Chirac said, “These dramas again shed light on the solitude of many of our aged or handicapped citizens.”

It is reported that only 9 percent of France’s over-75 population lives in retirement housing, as compared to 20 percent in the United States. And it is reported that when funeral workers arrived to remove the dead, the apartments in which the oldsters lived were said to feel like ovens.

Some French funeral directors reported that the vacationing family members, when informed of the death of their elders, simply postponed funerals so as not to interrupt their vacations.

In Italy, the press reported an almost unbelievably heartless story concerning Maria Di Rio, an 82-year-old widow and mother of 12 grown children. The police detained Salvatore, one of her sons, after he deposited his mother on the doorstep of his brother Leonardo in the 105-degree heat before leaving for his August holiday. The excuse was that it was Leonardo’s turn to care for their mother, even though Salvatore admitted he knew that Leonardo already had gone on vacation.

This kind of unfeeling, abusive behavior seemingly prevalent in Europe puts Europeans into a mighty poor position to lecture the United States on what is happening in Iraq.

Still, a question can well be posed to “compassionate” President Bush. Is he going to offer air conditioners to the French folks, given this tragedy?

Why isn’t the unnecessary death of more than 11,000 mostly aged folks in France being viewed as the international catastrophe that it is? Would that Bush would be so moved as to make sure air conditioners are available to the French. Such a gift certainly could earn the respect of the United States’ aged population.

Ted Ruhig is well-known in Sacramento for his tireless advocacy for proposals designed to help seniors live long, happy, full lives. He has held leadership roles in several advocacy groups and on government advisory boards. Ruhig once sued the California Department of Aging for age discrimination, and won!

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