My Residence at Pine Forest Lodge

Description

This publication captures the experiences and struggles of an 80-year-old man, during the pandemic of the Coronavirus. It includes reflections that were transformed into a fictional story about the life of an elderly and the challenges he had to face and still faces, especially the reality of his wife who suffers from dementia.

Pascal Stephen Galway, an 80-year old Greek citizen, lived on the fictitious island of Ashtigas. When his wife, Emile-Marie, started suffering from dementia, their matrimonial home did not remain suitable for her. She was therefore placed at Pine Forest Lodge, the leading private caring home for the elderly on the island, where he visited her every day. The outbreak of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic suddenly interrupted these visits, creating a tragic dilemma for Pascal.

Ten weeks later, after lockdown had been lifted, he decided to join her. He instantly noticed that during his absence, his wife’s condition had deteriorated dramatically. She looked so frail that she was even administered the sacrament of extreme unction. It was Emile-Marie’s abysmal change for the worse that inspired the present work. Something, somewhere, must have gone inexplicably wrong. What was it? Why had it been allowed to happen? Pascal’s reflections seek to provide a convincing answer.

My Residence at Pine Forest Lodge aims to create awareness about social issues which need to be addressed more carefully, such as the solitude experienced by the elderly.

At the launch of My Residence at Pine Forest Lodge, Prof. Marvin Formosa, from the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, and Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Agius from the Faculty of Theology within the University of Malta, gave their academic reflection on the book. Both mentioned and emphasised how the COVID-19 pandemic effected negatively the social well-being of the elderly, especially those residing in care homes since their visiting hours were restricted as a measure to protect their health. They further explained how the book explains clearly how the pandemic’s arrival, unfortunately, left elderly people more isolated than before, and that now it is the time to remedy and start giving more value to elderly people in our society.