This is a book about nursing homes and aging. It is an attempt by this author to bring to light some of his observations and his personal experiences in a number of nursing homes environments. Mr. Miller, as both a floor nurse and a teacher, has been a keen observer of the care that is disseminated in a number of nursing homes. His book describes in detail several vivid accounts of inadequate, careless, negligent, and abusive care he has witnessed in some of those nursing homes. The author cites such examples as perpetual staffing shortages, an inadequate pay scale, a high turn-over rate, mandated overtime, extremely high job stress, physically and emotionally demanding work, and an inherent risk of disease transmission as the leading causes of a lack of proper care. Not only do many nursing home residents receive sub-standard care, but innumerable members of our elderly population become increasingly alienated from the mainstream. The view of the elderly is, to a great extent, that they are much less productive then the rest of us and therefore, less valuable members of this society. Our popular culture glamorizes youth and demonizes old age.
There is a cultural antipathy toward aging in this country and as a result, countless folks feel pressured to do whatever they can to try to slow down the process. The author also broaches end of life issues. There are two opposing forces, he states. On the one hand is medical technology and on the other is the view that the cessation of quality of life is equated with the end of life. Finally, Mr. Miller depicts and overall societal dereliction of responsibility in caring for the elderly. Many elderly find themselves at the end of their lives facing loneliness, no support system, and abandonment by friends and family. The author questions who will take care of any of us when our time of needs comes.