I am researching and writing a new book (my 24th) and would appreciate any comments or input from members. You will NOT be quoted unless you request and won't be identified. i am merely seeking anecdotes which might give me some new insights for additional chapters or appendices. This is not an attempt to sell the book which hasn't been published yet.
As ministers many of you probably know about the elderly in your area and have stories you can share. Have any elderly dropped out of your church? Is it because they became too frail to attend?
"Failing the Frailest: A Comprehensive Analysis of Healthcare Barriers for the Elderly and Proposed Solutions"
This book was triggered by my recent experience at a local pharmacy, the only one in Punxsutawney which has a drive through window and only one of two left.
I am not frail but I have been a disabilities activist for decades since before writing the first book on compliance with the ADA.
I drove 12 miles to the pharmacy only to be told my doctor would have to phone in to reconfirm my diabetes medicine - they had the prescription).
The usual wait time even to drop off a new prescription is in excess of 20 minutes, rather tough for a frail patient who, by definition probably has extreme difficulty even getting to a doctor's office.
Investigating I found many horror stories about being told to come back in a day or two for an antibiotic or similar critical medication which had been prescribed.
You might wonder why I didn't phone before transferring from my wheelchair to my car and driving in? Simple, the giant pharmacy chain has no one answering the phone. That also made it problematic for my doctor to phone in a confirmation, especially since she wasn't in until later in the day.
I started to think how this denial of a critical diabetic medication would effect a frail patient who was unable to raise pure hell with corporate HQ, sit in the drive through for an hour (not a single car behind me even honked their horn being used to routinely waiting an hour.
Two days later I picked up 5 prescriptions (forced to go there after my small pharmacy closed) and asked about the 6th. Yes, the pharmacist confirmed they had it but said I would have to wait an hour for that one.
Again I tried to imagine how a frail elderly person who had to beg a ride to the pharmacy would deal with this? Would they just give up?
Some questions:
How do we identify the frail?
By definition they aren't out in public.
Can Alexa or other AI keep them company, remind them to take medicine, eat, and get help on request?
Is healthcare for the frail elderly totally misaligned in the U.S.?
The Digital Divide (how many frail elderly even have a computer let alone the energy to fight with endless menus online or on the phone?)
If the problem of the frail among us is not part of your ministry it will be soon as the population quickly ages. (Citizen birth rate in the U.S. is now 1.66/woman - 2.1/woman is minimum for a stable population.
I hold six current FEMA certifications but there is none specifically addressing the Frail who are most impacted by any disaster since even normal life is so hard for them.
I have filed charges of elder abuse and violations of the ADA with the Civil Rights Division and am writing this book.
Do you have any experience in this field?
Should ministries have any role in this? Should we try to identify the frail, who by definition aren't able to attend church or church events. If so, HOW?
What role do immigrants play in nursing homes?
I hope some fellow ministers have encountered this problem in their flock, or that this will trigger some thoughts they can share. The book won't make any money but might contribute to the discussion in medical circles.
