REFLECTIONS: Caretakers
by Teresita Bacani-Oropilla, MD
So quickly did the days of the year 2025 flash by! The merriment of Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year 2026, along with their reunions and affectations of love and friendship seem like a distant past! Once more the differences of political opinions, the present problems of war and peace in the world present themselves to be dealt with.
Narrowing it to our own little corner, the perennial problem still exists. Who will continue to take care of our beloved oldsters in retirement homes and institutions for the long and short haul?
It was interesting to note that during the festivity season, cooks, food servers, room cleaners, laundry workers, wheelchair pushers, medicine givers and chauffeurs to medical appointments were still rotated or borrowed from similar caregiving facilities.
Why so? Because caregivers also had personal lives and families to love and celebrate with. While they go about their multi-changing caretaking tasks, it is noteworthy to delve into what many of them did before they became caretakers. Where do they come from? What did they do? What are their hopes for the future?
Many, the younger ones specifically, are locals pursuing studies towards future professions associated with medicine such as nursing, physical therapy, X-ray technicians, etc. Others are medically related professionals in their original countries but not certified by law to practice in the U. S. Many have language problems which they need to overcome.
Consider Nurse A as an example. A head nurse for years in a Spanish-speaking country, she ended up not using her skills appropriately. Fortunately, she had the courage to learn English, retake exams and ended up back where she was before.
Unfortunately, most others need their first salaries to pay for necessities like food, housing and childcare. They cannot afford to attain their previous social ranks in life. But they do have the courage and humility to start all over.
Maybe our loved ones’ caretaker is one of them. Don’ t they deserve our respect and gratitude?
Shouldn’ t we tell them so? Dr. Bacani-Oropilla is a retired pediatrician and psychiatrist.
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