fifty years ago, the two thirds of autistic kids who were mentally retarded were put into institutions. We now have “deinstitutionalized” the long term facilities, and the parents now have to care for them at home, never mind their behavior.
The higher functioning kids in the past often ended up diagnosed with mental problems, and often ended up in psychiatric facilities.
The bad news is that when puberty hits, often the boys become aggressive, so aging parents may not be able to cope. There are “halfway houses” for them, however.
As for Alzheimer’s: That used to be called senility. In the “good old days” usually the oldest daughter sacrificed her life to care for her aging parents.
An no, these are not “new” diseases. Just given a fancy new name.
Fancy new names for conditions....
yes.
And this can lead, or help create, new governmental funding programs for those involved in dealing with such conditions.
Makes good sense
thanks
Yep.
People don't understand when they talk about "family used to care for family" what that actually meant.
Usually a daughter would be chosen to be a "comfort" to her parents. She was not allowed to have suitors or even attend many parties. She was to be the unpaid nurse and maid for her parents until they died. Then she would generally be forced to go live with one of her married siblings where she would be the unpaid nurse and maid to them and their children.
It was an unpleasant life.
There are certain customs we should leave in the past and that is one of them.