Seeking Steady Arm to Lean on

【Abstract】 Seeking steady arm to lean on is an article which points to the problem of the aged

patients in the United States who live alone,and when they are ill,their plight always appears

miserable.With the development of society and the traditional family made decomposition,more

and more old people marched into the “empty nester”ranks,they rather part of life in the spirit and

need to be concerned about,help and comfort for.earnest effort for them to do service work,the

party and the government’s warm,social care to their hearts,to make “empty nest old man”in the

street,community happiness,happy,healthy lives.But it is the only way of the construction of the

harmonious community will be easier.

【Key Words】 single-person households; empty-nest older;helpful man; aged patients; friends;

endowment way; harmonious community

1 Introduction

Jane Gross, the author of article Seeking a Steady Arm to Lean On, is an American journalist.

As the title indicates, it points to the problem of the aged patients in the United States who live

alone, and when they are ill, their plight always appears miserable.The whole article gives five examples to state the increasingly serious phenomenon that the single aged patients are facing.

Grace McCabe,who lived alone with a fading eye sight,has fixed on one with a good heart,a

steady hand under pressure and a talent for problem solving,her friend,Charlotte Frank.The author

arranged this example at the beginning of the article which led to the thesis that the growing

number of American households consisting of one person results from the baby boom years ago

naturally.It also clears a view that patients cannot be both in the hospital and be their own

quarterback when they discharge from hospital.Then,here comes the problem that who should take

responsibility of the single aged patients.

Roberta Van Laven,who has advanced ovarian cancer,does not allow others to accompany her

to chemotherapy because she feels it hard to accept help.This proud woman will not permit

anyone to sit with her for six hours,though the distraction might be welcome.But it is really that it

is just so hard to accept help.Another instant,Barbara R,a 68-year-old former college

professor,who was given a diagnosis of breast cancer,seems to be more lucky.She not only has her

family dependents,but also calls her own web of relationships for supporting.Barbara’s positive

attitude towards disease reminds me of the importance of creating and making good use of

communicates of friends.Also,the forth example of Ms.Moran and Ms.Martines impressed me on

what a lifetime friendship really means--both friends will tide over the crisis and support mutually.

The final case about Mr.Daykin narrated that although he was taken care of by his friends,he

still can not get rid of his greatest fear--to become a burden to anyone,to incur obligation.But

finally,he bowed to dependence.The story of Mr.Daykin makes me think of how helpless and

weak we will be when we are fighting with the disease.Anyway,we should not immerse ourselves

in deep sorrow,we should not be trapped by physical pain,we should not lose heart and courage to

fight against the illness.

People living alone are among the most difficult cases.Anyone who is sick or disabled needs someone to quarterback their care both in the hospital and afterwards,but people who live alone

can end up being their own quarterbacks at a particularly vulnerable time.Making the situation

worse is the increase in short stays in hospitals,which sometimes send people home before they

can manage alone.

2. “Empty nest old people” in China

With the development of society and the traditional family made decomposition,more and

more old people marched into the “empty nester”ranks,they rather part of life in the spirit and

need to be concerned about,help and comfort for.The research”empty nester”,have very important

theoretical and practical significance.The current basic conditions of “empty nest old man” are

following:

Hard to go to a doctor when they are sick

“Empty nester”in a “go out a lock,enter the door to a lamp”lonely life at the some time,the need to

“three guarantees”,namely:the economic support security and life care for security.Nanjing

ordinary old worker monthly pension payments in 1000 multivariate,can only be used for daily

expenses,meets the disease can do.“Empty nester”,the elder sick ratio as high as 70%-80%,and

many people are more with the disease.According to information Nanjing city “empty

nester”medical spending a year on average is 5000 yuan,many people who don’t have health

insurance,become financially-difficult or outstanding phenomenon.

All alone and lack of communication

Empty nest feeling also is loneliness,but this kind of loneliness added in thought,self-pity and

helpless and so on in the complex emotional experience.The old man has empty nest feeling,most

of the depression and melancholy solitude,behavior back down.Many of them are restrained,very

few and social interaction.

On the phenomenon of boomerang kids is not optimistic

According to the survey,although “empty nester”children 85% have income,but 70%of the old

man can’t get their children’s support or medical treatment fee funding.And because the laid-off

workers and their children or grandchildren will purchase school and other reasons,they still have

to squeeze out the meager retirement pension,help children take expenses.

Living conditions remained to be improved

Part of the “empty nester”living environment dark wet,the daily health cleaning does not reach the

designated positon,daily articles on bed piled up around,make originally narrow space appear

narrow disorder,Their old and frail,still have to buy food cooking.For figure convenient save

trouble,often cook a meal eat three meals,and some have to save money,line up for food at a

discount price.Even some old man is still in use was eliminated coal stove.

Endowment way be restricted

Family endowment is China’s traditional pension mode,in rural still accounts for a major

position.The old the essential,the most important is to rely on the care of the children loved

ones.With the transition from traditional society to modern society,the old people’s idea and also

in decline,they think that rely on social endowment help provide is the future trend of

endowment.Although in the endowment concept is influenced by many factors,but low income is

to influence the old man endowment options to important factors.

3.How to improve “empty nester”conditions of life?