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Title: The business of aging Reference: Director, Laszlo Barna; writer, Laura Alper;
producers, Graydon McCrea (NFB) & Adam Symansky; presented by the
National Film Board of Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees. Abstract: Raises the question of whether the elderly and chronically ill should be cared for in government operated or privately owned nursing homes. Presents the situation of residents caught in the financial squeeze as operators attempt to cut expenses. Library of Congress subjects: Sociology subjects: Reviews and Numerical Ratings (2.5) This video is visibly dated, over two decades old, yet the content is as relevant as if it were filmed yesterday. The business of aging focuses on institutionalized aging, specifically caring for the aged in nursing homes. The aged do not have much of a voice in this video. It largely offers voice over narration and interviews with care staff. The message is simple - saving money is what the business of aging is all about. It compellingly portrays how government cut backs and cost saving measures in for profit services have sacrificed the aged to a depressing, lonely, debilitating, and monotonous life. It clearly demonstrates the vicious circle wherein deteriorating individuals - who do not receive adequate care because nursing staff are overworked and undertrained - become even more dependent and burdensome on care staff. The message is simple, though highly relevant and suitable for a first year course. The images and the hauntingly depressing reality it portrays make it worthwhile even for an upper level course; though here it will be necessary to supplement it with more detailed and sophisticated readings. Since the point is made quickly, showing the first 15 minutes will likely be enough. The video thus works well as a prelude to a lively discussion on aging and institutionalized care. For those who have had loved ones in a nursing home this may be a depressing reminder of that time. For those young students who have never contemplated their possible future as elderly institutionalized beings - it will be a horrifying eye opener. Two final points: 1) the influence of the Canadian Union of Public Employees is clear and this video is as much about caring work as it is about aging 2) it is worth noting that this video reproduces the very image of aging (e.g. degeneration and worthlessness) that it is trying to counter. Albert Banerjee (3) This video’s very sad, emotionally disturbing, and thought-provoking. It shows how profit supersedes human rights and how nursing homes are businesses that don’t really cater to the wellbeing of the elderly (which is supposed to be the main goal). Physical conditions, isolation, constraint, loss of freedom, loss of privacy, all have psychological effects, e.g., fear of dying, damage to wellbeing. It was also interesting to see how the nurses were affected: they felt the pain of the elderly, but couldn’t effect any change to help them more. The most provoking fact is that this video is a mirror into our future – it’s something that could happen to any of us. I was quite provoked that nothing’s being done about this. Even the owners, who seemed so uncompassionate, and to label everyone as complainers…I was very disturbed by that. One thing I liked is that the video has a very active voice, advocating on behalf of seniors and providing information about structural elements that affect them, and showing the seriousness of the problems. In a sense, the video was brainstorming about solutions, which was effective at providing a starting point to breaking down the barriers seniors face. I really liked that active voice. Marsha McQueen (undergraduate) (2.5) A grim video that, unlike “Not my home”, is largely on staff perspectives on their working conditions and the way that treating aging as a business is detrimental to all but investors. For better or for worse, these perspectives make this video less of an emotional landmine than “Not my home”, and will help students to formulate an analysis more readily. (Some aspects of the video are out-of-date. For example, patients are not now permitted to be put in restraints without their consent, and even a tray-table attachment on a wheelchair can be construed as constraint --this from a friend who works in a nursing home. So while restraints may still be in illegal use, it wouldn’t be spoken of as freely as in this video from a time when restraints were legal.) Kathy Bischoping (4) This film offers a heart-wrenching look into the
life of the elderly who have been placed in institutions. This film
strikes at the heart of the issue by illustrating the inhumane conditions
in these institutions, and also makes clear connections to the larger
structures of the economy and the state. The institutions used in this
film are all located in Canada and the movie is bit dated, thus making
it difficult to think that things have gotten any better in the current
climate of privatization and decentralization. Nevertheless the film
effectively captures the tension between profit and care without ever
losing sight of the potential for change. Sarah Newman
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