1. Topic-
The truth about the history of nursing homes.
 
2. Content-
It was the great theologian and philosopher Abraham J. Heschel that said, "A test of a people is how it behaves toward the old. It is easy to love children. Even tyrants and dictators make a point of being fond of children. But the affection and care for the old, the incurable, the helpless are the true gold mines of a culture."� There are many who see the treatment of the elderly of the United States, particularly in nursing homes, as substandard and that Americans, as a culture, neglect and devalue the elderly, but that is a mere myth. The truth of the matter is that nursing homes were created to help the elderly who did not have family to care for them, or could not receive adequate medical attention from an unlicensed professional. It has nothing to do with women in the workforce or a change in family values. This is demonstrated in looking at the origins of elderly care facilities in the United States. These facilities were actually created by women who did not want to see the elderly end up in the only alternative for those who had no family to care for them, almshouses. Today's lesson will debunk the myth behind the origin of these facilities, and show that United States values the elderly.
 
3. Goals: Aims/Outcomes-
1. Review the history of nursing homes in the United States
2. Focus on how women began the initiative
3. Emphasize standard of care
 
Procedures/Methods-

A. Introduction-

Focusing Event: Take 15 minutes and have each nurse write a short paragraph on the how and why they think nursing homes originated in the United States.
 

B. Development-

1. Discuss responses to focusing event.
2. Distribute and discuss handout A
3. Discuss elderly in American families. See notes for key points
 

C. Practice-

1. Break into small groups. Discuss differences between life in the Philippines compared the the United States. What cultural differences might account for the difference in how Americans care for the elderly (the use of nursing homes, specifically)
2. Discuss activity using Appendix B
 

D. Independent Practice-

Look back at the paragraph written at the beginning of the lesson. Write a new essay on how your thoughts have changed.
 

This Lesson Plan is available at (www.teacherjet.com)