Do the elderly or police need to trained about their encounters?

Today I think we have a heck of a topic to think about. I think we should think about it and read good interventions before they happen in our lives. They will happen if we live old enough.
Do the elderly need to be trained in their encounters with the police?
Looking for picture of older people attacking others only revealed the younger abusing the elder. But older people do strike out. Police are summoned and encounter older people being harmed or harming others. Maybe they are doing something that breaks the law. Abuse of the elderly is a problem, but it is not at all one sided.
With my cerebral palsy I find it more challenging to put on shoes and joint mobility. To get on the ground is a major effort. If I was arrested having my hands tied behind the back getting in and out of a car would be difficult. What I am describing will be a challenge to those you live into their 70’s to 90’s and beyond. When we are older we may get to frail to be handled like we could when we are younger.
A few years back I had a discussion with teens on how they should respond to police. Most teens never really are given information about this. A teen, cop encounter can quickly progress to an ugly, dangerous situation.
Paula Span writes an article, Another Possible Indignity of Age: Arrest for the New York Times where she shares several encounters the elderly have had with police. The link for the article is below.
Older people can be very difficult to deal with. They can be easily injured, frail, fall and be combative as well. These issues are not just for police but family and care takers as well. Old people can strike out and hurt others.

This is not going to end well, but what can we learn?

Fourteen years ago in the baseball playoffs a classic baseball fight occurs. Pictures tell us the problem of engaging the elderly the wrong way. Don Zimmer coach for the Yankees charges out like he always would of done. He is angry at Pedro Martinez. The difference now is he is 72 years old in far less shape to boot. Pedro throws him down and Zimmer is cut and pulled a groin muscle and is taken to the hospital after the game. Nothing can be undone. There is not a redo. But we can learn from the incident. Nobody is ejected in the fight, but everybody knew you don't win throwing down an old man. But what would you do if Zimmer came after you? At my age and condition I am in Zimmer's situation. Tables do turn.
It is fair to let you know what I did. Right or wrong I learned from it. When I was in my early 20’s I

There are consequences if we choose to fight when we are
older.  Sometimes we have no choice. I still have the fire
to do silly things like Zimmer did here. What can I learn? 

was caring for a farmer who was 85. The man was suffering from depression. I knelt down to communicate with him in a gentle way. I was asking what I could do for the old gent when out of the blue with the speed of Ali facing Patterson, the old farmer hits me with a straight right jab sitting in a wheel chair. He hit me square on the nose and soon my nose is gushing with blood everywhere.  I told my mates to continue the intervention and I walked way stunned and unsure if I could continue without blowing my stack.
The farmer was unharmed which I was glad for. His depression was deep and later it was decided he would have to undergo electro shock treatments. For many of them I was assigned to assist in them and help him through it. He took a series of treatments over the next few weeks. His resolve about suicide was broken and mood improved. Shock treatments are not used as often today, but they are still an option when other treatments have failed.
I was determined to work with him because of the hitting incident and He was a nice enough guy. I never approached him from the side again. In talking to him he gave me a line I have used for years. I have asked him, “How you doing Mike?” and he would answer right on cue, “Fair to midland”.

Even though she is smaller and maybe weaker she wins with
a gentle affirmative response.

The old farmer assaulted me, he was frustrated and angry for being in the hospital against his wishes. He just wanted to commit suicide. I was part of a team of medical people who were trying to stop him. I had to step away for practical and emotional issues. We were all laughing about it later. If I hauled off and hit him that would have indicated the worse on my part. No, I learned from the incident and became more aware. I learned to help people on their worse days and had the confidence that we will get through this and we will be all right.
Generally speaking, people with dementia will pick up on anger around them, a lauder voice of care giver that is frustrated and the sufferer of dementia will strike out in anger. Never more truer a line of Scripture, “A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.” Prov. 15:1
With dementia and mental illness it is probable the police are the ones who will need to be trained with older people. They have parents, grandparents, they would want care for them. I believe the people in blue want to feel better about how they intervene with older people. Police often meet people on their worse day.
Still many older people still have awareness. Following police instructions and not escalating the situation is good. Communication of current disabilities and problems may also help police handle with care. But if the elderly are a danger to themselves or others, than police need tactics that would be more helpful and safer for the elderly and themselves. Training, reviewing past incidents would probably yield much helpful information.
It is just another factor that aging isn’t easy. Keep walking
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/21/health/older-americans-arrests.html?_r=0

Facing our adventures of fear with love and faith

I was reading Leslie Leland Fields blog today. Leslie and her husband live on Kodiak Island, Alaska. This week there were two rescues on the island that were pretty dramatic. The Coast Guard rescues a fishing boat only to find themselves in trouble and need to be rescued too. Then there is car accident with a fire and a friend of Leslie’s risk life to save the driver in the car. 

These are exciting stories that you could build a novel around. 

Leslie had an adventure in which anyone of us could participate in. She has an elderly friend named Sophie who needs a new coat. Her husband is in the hospital. Leslie and Sophie go on a shopping adventure hoping to find a coat with not many apparent options. To each coat Sophie says no. 

Then there is a moment where is Sophie confides in Leslie she is afraid. Who would be not be afraid when you become older each hospital visit becomes more serious. So many abilities we begin to lose. Her fears are real. Leslie reassures Sophie that Jesus and others like herself will be there for Sophie. They finish their shopping with no coat bought. Sophie has been encouraged with kind words by Leslie and one of the clerks of the store. She tells Leslie to go back to the store for that one coat.

It is a simple adventure, having a winter coat for the Alaskan winter is life-saving. Leslie takes the time to love her neighbor as herself. We may not be fishing in dangerous waters this week, think also the disciples in their experience of fishing in dangerous storms out on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus and Peter walk on water, we don't have that experience. But we can help our senior with finding shelter or valuable clothes, or food. Maybe there are kind words to affirm our love, we will be there for you. Be coming aged is full of fears. I often liken it to being in war facing trauma, heart attacks, strokes, cancer, losses due to diabetes; there is a lot out there and that should scare us to death. Let us take an adventure with our Sophie today. Keep walking

Promise - "I will never leave you or forsake you."

Read Leslie's blog at http://www.leslieleylandfields.com/blog/2017/1/11/the-unforgiveable-sin-especially-for-mini-van-drivers-like-me

Leslie has written a book Crossing Waters that I am reading on my Kindle. It's a good read.

The new American experience...tantrums

I may not be pastoring in a church any longer, but I still do hospital visitation. In particular I will never say no to a child. Last night I recalled visiting children who were very sick. Voices at that time were gentle and soothing by all parties in room. Underneath all are broken. God has impressed upon me to speak softly and clearly; but also to work at listening. I have prayed, sang, shared God's message, fine tuned by the needs of that moment. Inside "Lord I am not worthy, this child deserves a better..." Every time the child smiles back at me.
"If I do not have love"
That is the one thing I am not hearing in this political cycle, Love; by all the canidates in my opinion. I am hear a "noisy gongs." I am hearing a "clanging cymbals." All of it wants to squeeze us into some "mold" where we are silenced and fade away.
God brought to my memory those little eyes and hands. There was some crying again, but I haven't heard love at all in this new American experience, just tantrums.

Growing into a care taker, it takes a man to do it, women are already capable.

There was a study from the University of Michigan that points out in sickness and health when we get sick and age divorce can rise to 50%. If the husband is sick the wife tends to be the caregiver, but if the wife is sick the husband tends to divorce. 
“We found that women are doubly vulnerable to marital dissolution in the face of illness,” Karraker said. “They are more likely to be widowed, and if they are the ones who become ill, they are more likely to get divorced.” : http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/how-illness-affects-divorce-risk-amelia-karraker/relationships/#sthash.DJLuIe9M.dpuf
"When the wives became ill, about 50 percent of the marriages ended in divorce," said study author Amelia Karraker, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research. http://www.webmd.com/news/20140501/in-sickness-and-in-health-isnt-in-the-cards-for-many-women?src=RSS_PUBLIC

 In my blog I mainly track strategies that fight the three major things that will kill us, cardiovascular issues including heart and strokes, cancer, and diabetes. If we do things to prevent these things we are probably helping the things that kill us.
Why do guys cop out when wives get sick? Why are women better caregivers? Are our roles understood with the guy outside the home with relationships at work and the gal outside the relationships at work and into the care of the home and it's relationships? 
On TV relationships are hard because work is chosen over the relationship, but that may not ring true true to real life. 
Work plays a role in the care of the home, but it seems as we age guys in particular need to learn to refocus into the personal care of the family. Like the Grinch, Scrooge, his care muscles and skills may be too small. 
I think it is entirely possible that women are the stronger, smarter, emotionally able than men. 
Have you noticed in the commercials and media younger women matched with old goats. The Clipper Owner betrayed by one of his bimbos. The grandfather in the beer commercial dating someone who could be his granddaughter. All of the erectile dysfunction commercials have an older man with women many years younger. Why haven't we men learned to "rejoice with the wife of your youth"? Trade ins can't help us grow in love and care?
But also if we are weaker when it comes to care are there better solutions than as we age pick up a newer model to remind us we are still strong? 
Here are a few thoughts:
Take one day at a time
Reach out for others to help
Put the job in perspective, they will move on without you
Your care may be key in recovery
A life lived without regrets has great value
Focus on our battle with the big things such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and fast forward the four hour erection. Keep walking