elder abuse in Emmerdale
In recent storylines in the UK telly soap Emmerdale we've seen details of the relationship between elderly Sandy and his son Ashley, in whose house Sandy lives.
Sandy has always been a bit of a pain for his son and his son's family (wife Laurel and 2 young children) including his interfering remarks about Laurel's recent nearly-affair with another man. So Sandy's not a very sympathetic character. And we're invited to form our own opinions about Ashley who is a vicar.
But recently this seems to be developing into an elder-abuse storyline. We've seen the visiting cleaner, Rachel, finding Sandy in a wet bed from which he couldn't get up after Ashley flounced out and left Sandy in his bed. Rachel's gossipping has got a few other neighbours concerned and Ashley has become angrier. He's already appointed himself the guardian of Sandy's pension, claiming it's to do with wanting to restrict Sandy's drinking at the pub. He's attacked Sandy by throwing a hymn book at him. Now he's confiscated Sandy's house-key too and announced a curfew.
Ashley and Laurel took Sandy to view an old-folks home and I found it moving to see how Sandy sat alone in the bedroom that could be his. He doesn't want to admit that he's old. He's verbally pushed Rachel away. Other neighbours too. But I think we're gearing up for a story in which Sandy says, 'Yes, my son's not treating me right.'
Sandy has always been a bit of a pain for his son and his son's family (wife Laurel and 2 young children) including his interfering remarks about Laurel's recent nearly-affair with another man. So Sandy's not a very sympathetic character. And we're invited to form our own opinions about Ashley who is a vicar.
But recently this seems to be developing into an elder-abuse storyline. We've seen the visiting cleaner, Rachel, finding Sandy in a wet bed from which he couldn't get up after Ashley flounced out and left Sandy in his bed. Rachel's gossipping has got a few other neighbours concerned and Ashley has become angrier. He's already appointed himself the guardian of Sandy's pension, claiming it's to do with wanting to restrict Sandy's drinking at the pub. He's attacked Sandy by throwing a hymn book at him. Now he's confiscated Sandy's house-key too and announced a curfew.
Ashley and Laurel took Sandy to view an old-folks home and I found it moving to see how Sandy sat alone in the bedroom that could be his. He doesn't want to admit that he's old. He's verbally pushed Rachel away. Other neighbours too. But I think we're gearing up for a story in which Sandy says, 'Yes, my son's not treating me right.'