What is going to happen to us older vegans if we should need round-the-clock care, perhaps in a "nursing home." Where are we going to be able to go if we are accustomed to, and want to continue to have, a vegan environment, where we and the people around us don't eat flesh? There are kosher nursing homes for kosher Jews. And all kind of specialty nursing homes for various ethnic and religous reasons. Shouldn't vegans be concerned about having vegan nursing homes for senior vegans. Maybe even a system for providing help for extremely disabled vegans who need round the clock care? Esp since many of use consider veganism as related to the core values of life, its deepest meaning, much the way people think about religious ideas. Do we want our elder vegans to suffer being force-fed animal products, in non-vegan nursing homes? That is what I think will happen, if we don't start thinking about this NOW and working on it NOW.

I totally agree with you! My mom works in a nursing home and she is vegetarian (eats eggs and dairy.) This is a nice nursing home that is very expensive and she is appalled at the way the residents are fed. Everything has meat in it and everything is fried or prepared with a sauce/gravy (we're in the south.) She eats in the cafeteria when she works and she has a hard time finding things to eat. She told me there is one woman who does not eat meat and she mostly makes a meal out of side dishes. It is definitely not a good environment for a veg*n.

My husband and I were talking about this a few days ago...we would love to go to an all vegetarian (vegan friendly) retirement home. I bet some already exist...

Again, no answers but it's something I have also thought about. I should ask my Mom what she thinks, since she works in one as a nurse. I imagine they take into account that some people have food allergies and they serve around that, so they would likely have alternate dishes for people who didn't care to eat meat either. Not ideal though, but better than being force fed animal products. Something exclusive to vegans would be great, I doubt anything (large scale anyway) like that exists simply because there isn't enough demand for it. Perhaps that might change over the next couple of decades. Wishful thinking? I hope not.

I doubt anything (large scale anyway) like that exists simply because there isn't enough demand for it.

I think it would be best to establish vegan nursing homes, as not-for-profits -- and that this would eventually increas the interest in veganism. In other words, do things the other way around. Instead of having a demand create the service, have the service create the demand. How is that? If people knew there were vegan nursing homes, perhaps they would feel more comfortable about going vegan -- much the way they began feeling more comfortable about going vegan after the onset of vegan prepared foods. I think that things just need a little push like this -- then they can appear to be "snowballing" by themselves. Produce enough of an illusion of something happening to meet a their demand, should they make one, and this makes people more comfortable about making the demand, and they start making it, and this influences others to meet the demand, which further make people more likely to make the demand, go vegan.

At the very least agitation for vegan/vegetarian options in existing nursing homes would be a blessing. Think of how other institutional food service venues like elementary school kitchens have been influenced by agitation from parents and concerned citizens to provide healthier and/or veg options.

There probably aren't too many vegans in nursing homes yet or even those who are extremely near to entering one, but in about 30 or 40 years this could change drastically. If we begin to agitate now, huge improvements to the dietary offerings in general in institutional kitchens could be made.

I think it's very important for people to impress upon their families too how much continuing a vegan diet throughout life is to them. There might come a time when one is unable to communicate one's wishes, it would be helpful to have those in the position of decision maker won over.

With any luck, veg*ns typically being healthier than omni's, won't need the assistance of a nursing home and can remain self sufficient and independent until the last days. That's whay I'm hoping for anyhow. *fingers crossed*

There's probably some truth to that, but with pollution, accidents, and other factors that are beyond our control even vegans are bound to fall prey to the diseases or health catastrophes of age. It's a good idea to be prepared, I suppose.

I did some research on my lunch looking for vegetarian options at nursing homes. It appears that most will, in fact, be considerate of the dietary needs of veg*ns. Hopefully, whoever is making the decision on which nursing home to enter, researches all the options regardless so that the person is well taken care of.

I read in a magazine one time while waiting on my doctor to see me, that this photographic reporter from America had to go to another country for a story. I believe it was Thailand or a similar Asian country. She had been feeling down about reaching her 50th birthday...really was depressed. She came back revived and feeling more alive than ever. This is because of the way the younger people treated her. They rallied around her when she spoke and were captivated by her stories. They treasure their elders and look to them for wisdom. The elders are held in the highest regard an deeply respected. In the months she was there, she learned to be proud of the experiences that had added a line or two to her face. She realized the value that she had added and was still adding value to the world and the people she interacted with. She left bummed out at getting older and came back proud of the fact that she was an elder wise woman.

Yes, definitely let your family know how important it is to you to remain veg*n throughout your life. There are some people where my mom works who are not able to make decisions for themselves any more and there are lots of things that are done to them under "doctor's orders" whether they would choose it or not. This is a problem because the doctors may not see them often and may not be aware of the person's wishes if they do not have an advocate who will stick up for them. The people who's families are involved end up receiving much better care.