Getting older – what’s next for your Mum?

August is the month in which we celebrate Mother’s Day, which is held on the birthday of Queen Sirikit, as she is the ‘Mother’ of the nation.

The Mother’s Day of today is not related to the many celebrations of mothers and motherhood that have occurred throughout the world over thousands of years, such as the Greek cult to Cybele, the Roman festival of Hilaria, or the Christian Mothering Sunday celebration (originally a celebration of the mother church).

The modern concept of Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1908 in the USA, when a lady called Anna Jarvis managed to establish a Mother’s Day holiday on the second Sunday in May, in memory of her mother.

However, as we grow older, our mothers grow older too, and with advancing years come some not so nice medical conditions.  I lost my dear old Mum four years ago.  I still miss her.  She was 94, which is a splendid innings, but her last two years in Scotland were not such fun.  She needed a pacemaker, but in the UK at her age was just put on a list.  Mobility was a problem and she walked very slowly with a Zimmer frame as her heart was too irregular for her to have any physical rehabilitation.  It had got to the stage that she used to say, “What am I doing here?  I’ve passed my use-by date!”  My Mum was always pragmatic.

But what about your Mum?  I sincerely hope that your Mum is alive and enjoys good health.  And even more importantly, will continue to enjoy that good health.

Each year the hospital has special packages for ladies, designed to keep your Mum in the good health you want for her.  It is so much easier to correct something before it is too late.  By correcting high blood pressure you lower the chance of your Mum having a stroke.  By correcting high blood sugar you lower the chance of your Mum having diabetic problems.

Wouldn’t you want your Mum to grow into old age as fit and healthy as possible?

By the way, by signing up for the package, there are ‘healthy’ discounts for many procedures.  (I am sure there will be details in this newsletter.)

And if I may, “Happy Mother’s Day” to your Mum, the most important person in your life.