Aging Essay Examples

Fire outbreaks are particularly dangerous. They often catch people off guard. The danger is not only posed by the fire but also by the noxious harmful fumes produced that leave the affected disoriented. The situation is worse when the elderly are involved. Getting them to safety is a task since they poorly respond to alarms raised. The situation is compounded by motor and cognitive deficiencies brought on by advancing age. Any injuries sustained are likely to be fatal.
It was therefore quite shocking to find out from Paula Span's article written September 30th 2013 in the new old age blog, that 1100 nursing homes are ill equipped to deal with fire outbreaks due to lacking automatic sprinkler systems. This is despite several incidences including a blaze in 2003 at Greenwood health centre in Hartford that left sixteen dead. What is disconcerting however, is the fact that it wasn’t until 2008 that older nursing homes were required by law to fit sprinkler systems. It is even more heart breaking that they were given five years to comply when they complained about high costs of compliance. Those that have failed to comply are only required to file a plan of correction and are given a further ninety days to comply. If that is not a slap on the wrist, I do not know what is? Stiff fines and penalties should be imposed. The fines should accrue interest with each day of non-compliance. Human safety was playing second fiddle to the bottom lines of these nursing homes. Or is it because the people in question are retirees in their twilight years? Do their lives mean less due to their advanced age? The elderly deserve better and it is up to us.