Honour thy father and thy mother
This month my family were blessed to be able to celebrate the birthdays of my father, Thomas Famous Sr, on June 4, my grandson, Kamir, on June 8 and my mother, June Famous, on June 14. In stark contrast, during this same month, two of my close friends have had to pay visits to the Augustus family to make funeral arrangements for their parents.
My generation, those in their fifties and sixties, now has the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take care of our parents. With persons having a longer life span, they will develop several medical ailments along the way, whether it be Alzheimer’s, cancer, diabetes, dementia, hypertension, limited mobility or any given combination of issues. It is inevitable that the vast majority of persons in elderly life will face medical challenges.
As such, it is our duty as their children, grandchildren, godchildren, nephews, nieces, etc to be there for them. That would be inclusive of taking them to the doctor, buying their medication, helping them with their mobility issues, ensuring that they eat on time, purchasing their groceries, taking them for drives and caring for their properties.
Yes, it requires a fair bit of time to do some of these things. Some may very well have to consider becoming full-time caregivers. Others will have to examine options such as getting a full-time caregiver or using eldercare facilities. Whatever the arrangements may be, the most important aspect is that our elders know that they are valued and loved.
It does not cost us anything to pay them a visit or to give them a call.
Take some time to ask them about their earlier years and what life was like when they were young. Go one step farther and record these memories on video or audio. Without a doubt, these will be treasures in years to come.
Our parents took decades of their lives to take care of us. It is now our duty to take care of them. They certainly deserve the best.
• Christopher Famous is the government MP for Devonshire East (Constituency 11). You can reach him on WhatsApp at 599-0901 or e-mail at carib_pro@yahoo.com
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