Richard D’Souza
Age : 82
D’Souza, now 82, resides in the shadow of his prime, bedridden on the second floor of his daughter’s grand home after a debilitating stroke. His once-enviable life as a coffee planter unraveled at 70 following his wife Amelda’s demise from breast cancer. Left to grapple with loneliness, D’Souza turned to heavy drinking and smoking. His children, a son in the U.S. and two daughters in Bangalore, distanced themselves, shirking responsibilities as caregivers. The son, tasked with primary care, avoided his duty, claiming the geographical barrier.
After his wife’s death, D’Souza’s life spiralled into recklessness, losing wealth to deceitful children and relatives. Over 12 years, he dwindled from a millionaire planter to a destitute with only a meager plot of land and a dilapidated house remaining. Health deterioration added to his woes. The incongruity struck me profoundly – in a society that traditionally cares for its elderly, D’Souza was forsaken. His younger daughter, entrusted with caregiving, immersed herself in a high-profile social life, hiring a Geriatric Management Company. However, when advised physiotherapy, she dismissed it as too costly. All the children, are well D’Souza, confined for four years, became a skeletal figure awaiting the final blow.
D’Souza’s tale echoes the neglect many elders face, challenging the notion that children never betray. The children’s treatment resembled torture, yet the old man’s lack of foresight in planning his old age also plays a role. It’s a poignant biography revealing the complex interplay between familial expectations, societal norms, and personal responsibility in the twilight years.
Takeaway
Self neglect, Excessive drinking, Spouse loss, Financial loss, Children failing in their filial obligations, Subjected to inferior care
