Mum dedicated her life to protecting others. In Australia’s aged care system, she received no such sanctuary

by lechblaine

I wrote for The Guardian about my mother’s experience with a terminal illness in the aged care system.

“It is truly difficult to fathom the institutionalised cruelty of Australia’s aged care system. Politicians continue to make euthanasia elusive for people with neurodegenerative illnesses, while underfunding the nursing homes where many of them rot away.”

“It is much easier to look away. Life is hard enough without confronting the suffering of others. But we must bear witness to these indignities. The people most affected by neglect are incapable of protecting themselves. And one day they could be us.”