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Article: WHO WILL CARE FOR THE ELDERLY? WITH LOW-PAID STAFF TURNOVER SO HIGH, THE QUALITY OF CARE OUR LOVED ONES RECEIVE IS BOUND TO SUFFER.(FORUM)(GUEST COLUMN)(Column)
- Article from:
- The Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI)
- Article date:
- October 19, 2003
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Capital Newspapers. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Tracey K. Meek
It's 10 p.m. on a Sunday evening, and I have just finished talking to my parents on the East Coast.
They are stressed and tired. Both in their mid-70s, they find themselves responsible for the well-being of my dad's oldest sister, Georgia.
A once vibrant and active woman who spoke five languages and worked as a research librarian at a major university, she now resides in a nursing home in California, unable to tell you what day of the week it is. Like many other older Americans, she suffers from Alzheimer's disease and needs care 24 hours a day.
To attend to Georgia's needs and keep her comfortable, my parents ...