by Rona S. Bartelstone, LCSW, BCD, CMC, C-ASWCM

We recently watched two rounds of political conventions and were dazzled by the incredible “staging” of every wave of the hand and every camera angle. We heard talk about foreign policy, the environment, the economy and the war – all
important and necessary topics for our nation’s leadership and citizens.

What we heard very little about during either of these spectacles was the influence, the needs or the vision of our elders (ok, except for John McCain!). The needs of our aging society seemed to be the one big issue that was missing from the dialogue of both our major political parties. And the needs are great! Older adults deserve our attention from every perspective. They are important contributors to our massive economy; they have

paved the way for the social, cultural and technological changes that have powered that economy. They have taught us lessons of wisdom, patience and loyalty that help us to know who we are and where we have been. They provide us with faith, traditions and culture that anchor us in our understanding of human nature. So where is the discussion about the needs of one of our country’s most valuable assets? We need to hold our politicians accountable and ask them hard questions.

• What are we doing to help elders who risk losing their home because of the mortgage crisis?
• How do we assure that people on fixed incomes can continue to afford food, fuel and medications?
• How do we provide continuity of care, so that people don’t end up in revolving doors in and out of hospitals because no one is checking on them when they go home?
• What are we doing to help people who are survivors of loss, trauma and neglected emotional issues to cope with the compounded losses associated with the aging process?
• How can we, in good conscience, justify cuts in social services, transportation and rehabilitative services for the very people who gave us life?
• How do we assure the survival of the Social Security and Medicare system for the “young old” who don’t have pensions, but who contribute to our community with business, family lives and volunteerism?

In this political season, it is my hope that all the talk about “family and future” doesn’t mean that we forget how we got here. We have a debt to our elders and a contract with them: they are entitled to be heard, respected and provided with good care.

So as I think about my elders these days, I hope that our candidates for President and Vice President spend some time listening, honoring and figuring out how to better serve the representatives of our past, as well as our future.