“Don’t You Dare Put Me in a Home”

In Greece, everybody has a group.

Kids play together in the street.

People in their 30s hang out with mates, go to bars or cafes.

And the older folks? They’ve got the kafeneio — little cafés just for them.

No one’s left out.

It’s the same in India.

Weekends are filled with groups of families and friends heading to ashrams or going on pilgrimages.

Young, old, everyone’s included.

There’s a natural rhythm to life in these places.

Every stage is honoured.

Everyone has a place.

It got me thinking about Australia.

There, once you hit 50, it’s like you start fading out of view.

You’re not seen the same

Not respected the same.

Try getting a job at that age.

“Not employable,” they’ll say.

Look at the state of aged care.

It’s heartbreaking.

In Indian and Greek culture, elders are looked after.

They’re valued.

In Australia, it sometimes feels like being old just isn’t cool.

I laughed with my mum one day.

“Don’t you ever put me in a home,” she said.

“I’ll never forgive you.”

I laughed too, but I knew she meant it.

And honestly, I never would.

Because to me, getting older doesn’t make you less. It makes you more.

You sit with them.

You honour them.

You remember that without them, you wouldn’t be here at all.

Maybe we forgot that somewhere along the way in Australia.

But it’s not too late to remember.

What kind of elders do we want to become and how will we treat the ones already here?