[Dignity and the elderly: age makes no difference]

Abstract

Elderly people are human beings, dependent maybe, but still with a right to their dignity. However, in an institute, it is difficult to carry out care and monitor the residents at the same time as ensuring they have space for privacy and freedom. Overprotection and the sacralisation of autonomy can slide towards mistreatment. We must ensure that we are not submerged by the prevailing ideology which would have us believe that a dependent elderly person is a burden on society and that the solution to suffering is death.