Outsourcing the oldies back home
It’s a rare occasion, I know, but Eastern Eye has an interesting editorial this week. A company is building a special ‘township’ in India catering for British Asians who would want to send their oldies there to live there until, erm, the end. Housekeeping and six different types of meals will be included, apparently.
“It is a very realistic idea because we already have a lot of young people based in Britain who have explored the possibility of finding a home for their parents here. “It is quite feasible as care services in India are very well developed now.”
The work is actually being done by an NGO, but I think there is serious money to be made here (and if you make millions from this, I want a percentage dammit.)
Dignity Lifestyle, as the new township is known, is a first-of-its-kind concept in India. The foundation is emphatic about the fact that it is not an old-age home. It is about “productive ageing”, where the elderly are able to enjoy facilities like libraries, film shows and talks.
Interesting…. but here it the money quote:
“Our healthcare is sourced from the developing countries – how about turning the tables and outsourcing the elderly?”
How about we outsource our ‘community leaders’ so they can hatch controversies in their local village?
Joking aside, I think there is a potential timebomb that British Asians are sitting on. Most have totally different lifestyles and aspirations to their parents. Now imagine living with your parents for the rest of their lives. A lot of them don’t, which has led to an increasing number of Asian parents being ‘abandoned’, whiling their time away at the local gurudwara/mandir/mosque.
This is an old idea. In fact, I think I can take credit for it. Yes, me. I want the cash, not Sunny. Years ago when outsourcing was a new word, I wrote a little article and ended it by saying wouldn’t it be funny if British people (not necessarily Asians) outsourced their old folk to India? I suggested a hillstation with a nice climate and cheap labour - perfect. Nice food, English-speaking doctors if need be, English-speaking staff and lovely scenery. Beats Southend.
Et voila.
I’m sure some of you know the HUGE money-spinner that nursing homes and care homes in the UK are. Many are Asian-owned and many, in my opinion, are shockingly substandard. It’s been a side-business for countless Asian GPs for years and plenty of GPs I know earn far more via their homes than via the NHS. Yet it’s never been something I would like to be involved with - I find the callous attitude a lot of owners have to their homes disgusting. If you can’t trust a home a few miles down the road to look after your parents, you really think sending them a few thousand miles away is a better idea? No one to check up on them? Good God you’d be mad.
The last issue you raise is very interesting Sunny. The elderly population is rapidly on the rise both here (not HERE, I mean the UK) and in India. What will happen to the post-retirement population over the next few decades is anyone’s guess.
I’ve seen the provider (Sri Lankan) of my local nursing home shopping in Tesco. Not only does the Cvunt buy tesco value - he buys it off the reduced shelf too.
People shouldn’t get mugged of their property to have such substandard treatment.
I think its a fantastic idea and there have been quite a few retirment home ideas that have been launched over the last decade or so. Many have been fairly upmarket or were less holistic in their appeal (more nursing home per se than ‘progressive aging facility - sounds like something outtta Half Life).
It’s a sad situation but one that must be faced none the less. The idea looks good but I can’t help feel we’ll see stories in a few years detailing the corruption/abuse of residents as seems to crop up with elderly peoples homes…
One of the main problems behind the private care homes disaster is the greed that goes with it.
I’ve long advocated that the homes should be run on a co-operative basis, where the trustees (the ‘board’) is made up of relatives of the residents.
My experience of the homes is that they are not universally bad - those run by the local authority are much better monitored. The private ones are run by people out to make money.
There are similar ’social’ ventures where the national care standards authority monitors and certifies workers within private institutes - but never get behind the scenes to see the disgusting exploitation of their workers. These attitudes filter through to the care given.
Never settle for social care for any of your family where the workers are paid a pittance.
Better still, stop the outsourcing of care.
If you must, then get together with others of like minds, with family that need caring and set one up. Forget making money, but be satisfied that you are doing the right thing.
Not only does the Cvunt buy tesco value - he buys it off the reduced shelf too.
So what he saves a few quid. I mean like someone HAS to buy reduced price stuff.
@Rohin: So good tah see u back.
Tesco value bread is fucking nasty. Especially when it’s half-gone off anyway after being put on the reduced shelf on it’s use-by date.
after being put on the reduced shelf on it’s use-by date.
Well at my local Sainbury’s (my town doesnt have a tesco), they put the food thats on its display-by date.
Read These Foolish Things by Debra Moggach for a fuller consideration…
So what he saves a few quid. I mean like someone HAS to buy reduced price stuff.
Minimal nutritional value…but then does it matter?
Oh dear - ageism!
You know ageism is the biggest problem in this country, ahead of sexism and racism… and it’s going to get worse. Outsource the oldies, that’s what I say! Just kidding.
Dont u mean outsources oldie care.
Outsourcing oldies is already up and running;
http://www.paradiseretirementvillages.com/