Alzheimer’s is NOT Just a Seniors Issue: Glenn & Velma Pagett’s Story

Recently I ran into an old friend whom I haven’t seen in a while.  He’s a former city councillor and a big ambassador for our community of Peterborough Ontario.  I asked Glenn Pagett how things were.   He told tell me how his wife of 59 years was in a long term care facility.  Velma’s Alzheimer’s had progressed.  He no longer had a choice.  He needed professionals to step and ensure her safety.

Velma and Glenn Pagett at St. Joseph’s at Fleming

Glenn and I chatted about how people don’t know or pay attention to “things” like Alzheimer’s until it impacts you.  You don’t understand how your life can be completely unwound by a disease; unless the disease attacks you and your family.  Glenn wanted to tell his story in hopes other people would better understand the disease and more importantly to highlight the effort of overworked employees in underfunded long term care facilities.   He wanted to give credit to the people who care for his wife everyday, but given them a voice, that this is a serious problem.

I visited Velma. I also spoke with a manager at St. Joesph’s at Fleming. The same facility my Grandma was in, who also suffered with Alzheimer’s.  This vlog is not about pointing fingers, it’s about recognizing that Alzheimer’s and aging is everyone’s issue.  We as a country need to care for people who are not able to care for themselves.  It’s a challenge because, let’s be honest from a economic perspective, what kind of money is someone like Velma pumping back into our economy?  NONE.  So why would politicians and bureaucrats give any priority to an issue that doesn’t “fuel” our economy.

BECAUSE we should, it’s that simple.  Caring for the elderly or incapable is part of society’s job.  If we pump more money into job creation and education in this sector we will boost the economy and we’ll be a better nation because of it.  I read a quote once that said, “The measure of a civilization is how it treats its weakest members”.  I understand business and I understand the importance of return on investment.  Developing a solid national aging strategy for long term care facilities can fuel the economy and more importantly take care of the people who once took care of us.  I do not want my parents in an underfunded old school model of long term care.  I don’t want my kids to send me to a “home”.  Call your M.P. and take the advice of Vicki Barrow, who is featured in the VLOG and make a call to action to change the way long term care facilities are operated and funded.