Native Son Theme Analysis Essay

In his novel, Native Son, Richard Wright reveals his major theme of the Black population in America in the 1930’s. In the opening scene of the novel, Wright introduces his condemning message towards the ugliness of American racism and the social oppression of Blacks in his time. The opening scene of Native Son functions by foreshadowing future events that occur throughout the novel involving major symbols that are introduced in the scene to represent other elements in the novel. The scene also establishes an atmosphere of hopelessness and despair as it presents the Thomas apartment setting and its contrasting image of the Dalton mansion. The function of the scene is established by three major elements which is the alarm clock, the rat-catching, and the apartment setting. The first element that is introduced is the ambiguous alarm clock. The alarm clock that awakens Bigger Thomas and his family at the opening of the novel is a major symbol that Wright uses to attack American racism. The loud ring the alarm clock gives off serves as a wake-up call Wright wants his audience to hear. Wright uses the alarm to represent his assertive message to the American public of the destructive effects of racism and oppression American society has accepted. His call for change is like a prophetic warning such as Elisha gives, in Biblical context, demanding the need for social change before it is too late for the nation of ancient Israel. Similar to Elisha’s warning, Wright predicts revolutionary violence and social upheaval if racism and oppression is not stopped in American society. Another function of the alarm clock is its foreshadowing of Bigger’s symbolic awakening in the course of the novel. The clock in the opening scene represents Bigger as a powder keg, both of which are waiting to go off at any moment. Bigger’s climactic point of his explosive act of killing Mary serves the same function as the alarm given off from the clock whereas both wake and opens the eyes of those who hear it or see it. The alarm clock symbolizes Bigger’s new realization that he should not feel guilty for the killing of Mary because of the living conditions White society forced him to live into, which made him into what he is. Another important element in the opening scene that Wright uses to attack racism and oppression is the rat-catching. In the commencement of the novel, Bigger discovers a huge black rat and his mother and sister jump in hysteria. Bigger then corners the rat, and as the rat attacks back, he strikes it with a skillet; then smashes it superfluously until it became a bloody pulp and showed it to Vera. The rat-catching scene is significant because it foreshadows Bigger being tracked down and caught in the course of the novel. In the scene, Wright portrays the black rat as Bigger Thomas. Wright makes them resemble like each other because of their color and their unwanted presence. Like rats, the Black population are viewed as vermin and unwanted pests by White society. With this perspective, the public oppresses and controls the Black population to prevent them from getting near towards Whites in American society. Both Vera and Mother Thomas’ hysteria towards the rat resembles White society’s hysteria toward Bigger’s murder and assumed rape of a White woman. Vera and Mother Thomas’ reaction towards the huge black rat is that of disgust and fear of what it may do. In comparison, when the public found the truth behind the killing of Mary, they panicked and feared of what a Black murderer and rapist is capable of doing. Wright uses this episode to reveal the intense hate the racist American society has towards the Black population. He also uses it to call attention to the excessive paranoia the public exhibits which is a link to the intensity and depth of American racism. Another foreshadowing in the novel would be the representation of Bigger’s capture through Bigger’s cornering of the rat. In the beginning of the novel, Bigger blocks the exit of the rat such as how the police block the exit on Bigger later on in the novel. The foreshadowing extends also at how the rat attacks viciously at Bigger’s pant leg such as how Bigger shoots back at his capturers to prevent being caught. These aggressive scenes between survival and fear points out the result and effects of American society’s strong racist views as Wright describes the capturers drive to capture what seems dangerous and fearsome to them. The last and final foreshadowing in the opening scene would be Bigger’s superfluous bashing of the rat and his act of showing the bloody rat to Vera. The scene is used to portray Bigger’s excessive beating at the time of capture and Buckley’s exhibition of Bigger’s capture and death. The excessive beating of both the rat and Bigger relate the abuser’s need for their thirst witnessing pain being inflicted upon their subject. They are also similar because their unnecessary abuse is a signal of the intense hate the abuser had towards them. Also, the exhibition of Bigger by Buckley presents the similar racist connotations as the beating does. In the novel, Buckley holds Bigger as a political advantage, stressing a racist message to Blacks to show them what happens to the unwanted Blacks when they break the law in Richard Wright’s time which consists of strict and racist laws. One last important element of the opening scene is the setting of the dilapidated Thomas apartment. One function of this apartment setting is to set the atmosphere for the novel as a whole. The run-down and squalid apartment gives a sense of hopelessness and despair. The gloomy aspect of the setting describes the victimization of the Thomas family done by the society in which they are living in. Another function of the apartment setting is that it is a microcosm for how Blacks live throughout the city of Chicago. The apartment is a small, congested room fixed with a kitchen and no walls to separate the men from the women. The inappropriateness of their apartment is exemplified when both Buddy and Bigger have to turn their heads away while Mother Thomas and Vera dress. These unacceptable living conditions are created by an oppressive society and creates an unstable Black society which produces people such as Bigger who turn out to be exactly what White society believes they are like. The apartment setting is also part of a geographical contrast with the Dalton mansion. The apartment shows the unfair distribution of wealth as the Dalton mansion exhibits aristocratic characteristics with its multiple rooms and white columned porch; while the Thomas apartment has a mere single room, which occupies an entire family, and consists of a rat infestation. The contrast helps enforce the sense of the inequality and injustice while it also presents a divided Black and White society made possible by a racist country. Altogether, the opening scene functions to attack American society and its oppressive standpoint towards Blacks in Richard Wrights time. Wright establishes the scene’s function by using these three major elements: the alarm clock, the rat-catching, and the apartment setting. Richard Wright central theme of change is produced by the opening scene to correspond with the rest of the novel as it stresses the warning of a possible revolution and social upheaval if conditions do not change in American society.

Zoe’s Tale PART I Chapter Two

I climbed out onto the roof through my bedroom window and looked back at Hickory. â€Å"Hand me those binoculars,† I said. It did – and then climbed out the window with me. Since you've probably never seen it I'll have you know it's a pretty impressive sight to watch an Obin unfold itself to get through a window. Very graceful, with no real analogue to any human movement you might want to describe. The universe, it has aliens in it. And they are. (Obin: â€Å"it,† not â€Å"he† or â€Å"she.† Because they're hermaphrodites. That means male and female sex organs. Go ahead and have your giggle. I'll wait. Okay, done? Good.) Hickory was on the roof with me; Dickory was outside the house, more or less spotting me in case I should trip or feel suddenly despondent, and then fall or leap off the roof. This is their standard practice when I climb out my window: one with me, one on the ground. And they're obvious about it; when I was a little kid Mom or Dad would see Dickory blow out the door and hang around just below the roof, and then yell up the stairs for me to get back into my room. Having paranoid alien pals has a downside. For the record: I've never fallen off the roof. Well, once. When I was ten. But there were extenuating circumstances. That doesn't count. Anyway, I didn't have to worry about either John or Jane telling me to get back into the house this time. They stopped doing that when I became a teenager. Besides, they were the reason I was up on the roof in the first place. â€Å"There they are,† I said, and pointed for Hickory's benefit. Mom and Dad and my green friend were standing in the middle of our sorghum field, a few hundred meters out. I raised my binoculars and they went from being hash marks to being actual people. Green man had his back to me, but he was saying something, because both Jane and John were looking at him intently. There was a rustle at Jane's feet, and then Babar popped up his head. Mom reached down to scratch him. â€Å"I wonder what he's talking to them about,† I said. â€Å"They're too far away,† Hickory said. I turned to it to make a comment along the lines of no kidding, genius. Then I saw the consciousness collar around its neck and was reminded that in addition to providing Hickory and Dickory with sentience – with their idea of who they were – their collars also gave them expanded senses, which were mostly devoted to keeping me out of trouble. I was also reminded that their consciousness collars were why they were here in the first place. My father – my biological father – created them for the Obin. I was also reminded that they were why I was here, too. Still here, I mean. Alive. But I didn't go down that road of thought. â€Å"I thought those things were useful,† I said, pointing to the collar. Hickory lightly touched the collar. â€Å"The collars do many things,† it said. â€Å"Enabling us to hear a conversation hundreds of meters away, and in the middle of a grain field, is not one of them.† â€Å"So you're useless,† I said. Hickory nodded its head. â€Å"As you say,† it said, in its noncommittal way. â€Å"It's no fun mocking you,† I said. â€Å"I'm sorry,† Hickory said. And the thing of it was, Hickory really was sorry. It's not easy being a funny, sarcastic thing when most of who you were depended on a machine you wore around your neck. Generating one's own prosthetic identity takes more concentration than you might expect. Managing a well-balanced sense of sarcasm above and beyond that is a little much to ask for. I reached over and gave Hickory a hug. It was a funny thing. Hickory and Dickory were here for me; to know me, to learn from me, to protect me, and if need be to die for me. And here I was, feeling protective of them, and feeling a little sad for them, too. My father – my biological father – gave them consciousness, something the Obin had lacked and had been searching for, for the entire history of their species. But he didn't make consciousness easy for them. Hickory accepted my hug and tentatively touched my head; it can be shy when I'm suddenly demonstrative. I took care not to lay it on too thick with the Obin. If I get too emotional it can mess up their consciousness. They're sensitive to when I get overwrought. So I backed up and then looked toward my parents again with the binoculars. Now John was saying something, with one of his patented half-cocked smiles. His smile erased when our visitor started talking again. â€Å"I wonder who he is,† I said. â€Å"He is General Samuel Rybicki,† Hickory said. This got another glance back from me. â€Å"How do you know that?† I said. â€Å"It is our business to know about who visits you and your family,† Hickory said, and touched its collar again. â€Å"We queried him the moment he landed. Information about him is in our database. He is a liaison between your Civil Defense Forces and your Department of Colonization. He coordinates the protection of your new colonies.† â€Å"Huckleberry isn't a new colony,† I said. It wasn't; it had been colonized for fifty or sixty years by the time we arrived. More than enough time to flatten out all the scary bumps new colonies face, and for the human population to become too big for invaders to scrape off the planet. Hopefully. â€Å"What do you think he wants from my parents?† I asked. â€Å"We don't know,† Hickory said. â€Å"He didn't say anything to you while he was waiting for John and Jane to show up?† I said. â€Å"No,† Hickory said. â€Å"He kept to himself.† â€Å"Well, sure,† I said. â€Å"Probably because you scared the crap out of him.† â€Å"He left no feces,† Hickory said. I snorted. â€Å"I sometimes question your alleged lack of humor,† I said. â€Å"I meant he was too intimidated by you to say anything.† â€Å"We assumed that was why you had us stay with him,† Hickory said. â€Å"Well, yeah,† I said. â€Å"But if I knew he was a general, maybe I wouldn't have given him such a hard time.† I pointed to my parents. â€Å"I don't want them getting any grief because I thought it would be fun to mess with this guy's head.† â€Å"I think someone of his rank would not come all this way to be deterred by you,† Hickory said. A list of snappy retorts popped in my head, begging to be used. I ignored them all. â€Å"You think he's here on some serious mission?† I asked. â€Å"He is a general,† Hickory said. â€Å"And he is here.† I looked back through the binoculars again. General Rybicki – as I now knew him – had turned just a bit, and I could see his face a little more clearly. He was talking to Jane, but then turned a bit to say something to Dad. I lingered on Mom for a minute. Her face was locked up tight; whatever was going on, she wasn't very happy about it. Mom turned her head a bit and suddenly she was looking directly at me, like she knew I was watching her. â€Å"How does she do that?† I said. When Jane was Special Forces, she had a body that was even more genetically modified than the ones regular soldiers got. But like Dad, when she left the service, she got put into a normal human body. She's not superhuman anymore. She's just scary observant. Which is close to the same thing. I didn't get away with much of anything growing up. Her attention turned back to General Rybicki, who was addressing her again. I looked up at Hickory. â€Å"What I want to know is why they're talking in the sorghum field,† I said. â€Å"General Rybicki asked your parents if there was someplace they could speak in private,† Hickory said. â€Å"He indicated in particular that he wanted to speak away from Dickory and me.† â€Å"Were you recording when you were with him?† I asked. Hickory and Dickory had recording devices in their collars that recorded sounds, images and emotional data. Those recordings were sent back to other Obin, so they could experience what it's like to have quality time with me. Odd? Yes. Intrusive? Sometimes, but not usually. Unless I start thinking about it, and then I focus on the fact that, why yes, an entire alien race got to experience my puberty through the eyes of Hickory and Dickory. There's nothing like sharing menarche with a billion hermaphrodites. I think it was everyone's first time. â€Å"We were not recording with him,† Hickory said. â€Å"Okay, good,† I said. â€Å"I'm recording now,† Hickory said. â€Å"Oh. Well, I'm not sure you should be,† I said, waving out toward my parents. â€Å"I don't want them getting in trouble.† â€Å"This is allowed under our treaty with your government,† Hickory said. â€Å"We're allowed to record all you allow us to record, and to report everything that we experience. My government knew that General Rybicki had visited the moment Dickory and I sent our data query. If General Rybicki wanted his visit to remain secret, he should have met your parents elsewhere.† I chose not to dwell on the fact that significant portions of my life were subject to treaty negotiation. â€Å"I don't think he knew you were here,† I said. â€Å"He seemed surprised when I sicced you on him.† â€Å"His ignorance of us or of the Obin treaty with the Colonial Union is not our problem,† Hickory said. â€Å"I guess not,† I said, a little out of sorts. â€Å"Would you like me to stop recording?† Hickory asked. I could hear the tremble on the edge of its voice. If I wasn't careful about how I showed my annoyance I could send Hickory into an emotional cascade. Then it'd have what amounted to a temporary nervous breakdown right there on the roof. That'd be no good. He could fall off and snap his snaky little neck. â€Å"It's fine,† I said, and I tried to sound more conciliatory than I really felt. â€Å"It's too late now anyway.† Hickory visibly relaxed; I held in a sigh and gazed down at my shoes. â€Å"They're coming back to the house,† Hickory said, and motioned toward my parents. I followed its hand; my parents and General Rybicki were indeed heading back our way. I thought about going back into the house but then I saw Mom look directly at me, again. Yup, she'd seen me earlier. The chances were pretty good she knew we had been up there all that time. Dad didn't look up the entire walk back. He was already lost in thought. When that happened it was like the world collapsing in around him; he didn't see anything else until he was done dealing with what he was dealing with. I suspected I wouldn't see much of him tonight. As they cleared the sorghum field, General Rybicki stopped and shook Dad's hand; Mom kept herself out of handshaking distance. Then he headed back toward his floater. Babar, who had followed the three of them into the field, broke off toward the general to get in one last petting. He got it after the general got to the floater, then padded back to the house. The floater opened its door to let the general in. The general stopped, looked directly at me, and waved. Before I could think what I was doing, I waved right back. â€Å"That was smart,† I said to myself. The floater, General Rybicki inside, winged off, taking him back where he came from. What do you want with us, General? I thought, and surprised myself by thinking â€Å"us.† But it only made sense. Whatever he wanted with my parents, I was part of it too.

The Host Chapter 55: Attached

Jeb cleared a path for me, pushing people aside with his rifle as though they were sheep and the gun a shepherd's staff. â€Å"That's enough,† he growled at those who complained. â€Å"You'll get a chance to dress ‘im down later. We all will. Let's get this sorted out first, okay? Let me through.† From the corner of my eye, I saw Sharon and Maggie fall to the back of the crowd, melting away from the reinstatement of reason. Away from my involvement, really, more than anything else. Both with jaws locked, they continued to glare at Kyle. Jared and Ian were the last two Jeb shoved aside. I brushed both of their arms as I passed, hoping to help calm them. â€Å"Okay, Kyle,† Jeb said, smacking the barrel of the gun against his palm. â€Å"Don't try to excuse yourself, 'cause there ain't no excuse. I'm plain torn between kickin' ya out and shootin' ya now.† The little face, pale under the deep tan of her skin, peeped around Kyle's elbow again with a swish of long, curly black hair. The girl's mouth was hanging open in horror, her dark eyes frantic. I thought I could see a faint sheen to those eyes, a hint of silver behind the black. â€Å"But right now, let's calm everybody down.† Jeb turned around, gun held low across his body, and suddenly it was as if he were guarding Kyle and the little face behind him. He glared at the mob. â€Å"Kyle's got a guest, and you're scarin' the snot out of her, people. I think you can all dig up some better manners than that. Now, all of you clear out and get to work on something useful. My cantaloupes are dying. Somebody do something about that, hear?† He waited until the muttering crowd slowly dispersed. Now that I could see their faces, I could tell that they were already getting over it, most of them, anyway. This wasn't so bad, not after what they'd been fearing the last few days. Yes, Kyle was a self-absorbed idiot, their faces seemed to say, but at least he was back, no harm done. No evacuation, no danger of the Seekers. No more than usual, anyway. He'd brought another worm back, but then, weren't the caves full of them these days? It just wasn't as shocking as it used to be. Many went back toward their interrupted lunch, others returned to the irrigation barrel, others to their rooms. Soon only Jared, Ian, and Jamie were left beside me. Jeb looked at these three with a cross expression; his mouth opened, but before he could order them away again, Ian took my hand, and then Jamie grabbed the other. I felt another hand on my wrist, just above Jamie's. Jared. Jeb rolled his eyes at the way they'd tethered themselves to me to avoid expulsion, and then turned his back on us. â€Å"Thanks, Jeb,† Kyle said. â€Å"Shut the hell up, Kyle. Just keep your fat mouth shut. I'm dead serious about shooting you, you worthless maggot.† There was a weak whimper from behind Kyle. â€Å"Okay, Jeb. But could you save the death threats till we're alone? She's terrified enough. You remember how that kind of stuff freaks Wanda out.† Kyle smiled at me-I felt shock cross my face in reaction-and then he turned to the girl hiding behind him with the gentlest expression I'd ever seen on his face. â€Å"See, Sunny? This is Wanda, the one I told you about. She'll help us-she won't let anyone hurt you, just like me.† The girl-or was she a woman? She was tiny, but there was a subtle curviness to her shape that suggested more maturity than her size-stared at me, her eyes huge with fright. Kyle put his arms around her waist, and she let him pull her into his side. She clung there, as if he were an anchor, her pillar of safety. â€Å"Kyle's right.† Never thought I'd say that. â€Å"I won't let anyone hurt you. Your name is Sunny?† I asked softly. The woman's eyes flashed up to Kyle's face. â€Å"It's okay. You don't have to be afraid of Wanda. She's just like you.† He turned to me. â€Å"Her real name is longer-something about ice.† â€Å"Sunlight Passing Through the Ice,† she whispered to me. I saw Jeb's eyes brighten with his unquenchable curiosity. â€Å"She doesn't mind being called just Sunny, though. She said it was fine,† Kyle assured me. Sunny nodded. Her eyes flickered from my face to Kyle's and back again. The other men were totally silent and totally motionless. The little circle of calm soothed her a bit, I could see. She must have been able to feel the change in the atmosphere. There was no hostility toward her, none at all. â€Å"I was a Bear, too, Sunny,† I told her, trying to make her feel just a little more comfortable. â€Å"They called me Lives in the Stars, then. Wanderer, here.† â€Å"Lives in the Stars,† she whispered, her eyes somehow, impossibly, getting wider. â€Å"Rides the Beast.† I suppressed a groan. â€Å"You lived in the second crystal city, I guess.† â€Å"Yes. I heard the story so many times†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Did you like being a Bear, Sunny?† I asked quickly. I didn't really want to get into my history right now. â€Å"Were you happy there?† Her face crumpled at my questions; her eyes locked onto Kyle's face and filled with tears. â€Å"I'm sorry,† I apologized at once, looking to Kyle, too, for an explanation. He patted her arm. â€Å"Don't be afraid. You won't be hurt. I promised.† I could barely hear her answering whisper. â€Å"But I like it here. I want to stay.† Her words brought a thick lump to my throat. â€Å"I know, Sunny. I know.† Kyle put his hand on the back of her head and, in a gesture so tender it made my eyes smart, held her face against his chest. Jeb cleared his throat, and Sunny started and cringed. It was easy to imagine the frayed state her nerves must be in. Souls were not designed to handle violence and terror. I remembered long ago when Jared had interrogated me; he'd asked if I was like other souls. I was not, nor was the other soul they'd dealt with, my Seeker. Sunny, however, seemed to embody the essence of my gentle, timid species; we were powerful only in great numbers. â€Å"Sorry, Sunny,† Jeb said. â€Å"Didn't mean to scare you, there. Maybe we ought to get out of here, though.† His eyes swept around the cave, where a few people lingered by the exits, gawking at us. He stared hard at Reid and Lucina, and they ducked down the corridor toward the kitchen. â€Å"Probably ought to git along to Doc,† Jeb continued with a sigh, giving the frightened little woman a wistful glance. I guessed he was sad to be missing out on new stories. â€Å"Right,† Kyle said. He kept his arm firmly around Sunny's tiny waist and pulled her with him toward the southern tunnel. I followed right behind, towing the others who still adhered to me. Jeb paused, and we all stopped with him. He jabbed the butt of his gun into Jamie's hip. â€Å"Ain't you got school, kid?† â€Å"Aw, Uncle Jeb, please? Please? I don't want to miss -â€Å" â€Å"Get your behind to class.† Jamie turned his hurt eyes on me, but Jeb was absolutely right. This was nothing I wanted Jamie to see. I shook my head at him. â€Å"Could you get Trudy on your way?† I asked. â€Å"Doc needs her.† Jamie's shoulders slumped, and he pulled his hand out of mine. Jared's slid down from my wrist to take its place. â€Å"I miss everything,† Jamie moaned as he turned back the other way. â€Å"Thanks, Jeb,† I whispered when Jamie was out of hearing. â€Å"Yep.† The long tunnel seemed blacker than before because I could feel the fear radiating from the woman ahead of me. â€Å"It's okay,† Kyle murmured to her. â€Å"There's nothing that's going to hurt you, and I'm here.† I wondered who this strange man was, the one who had come back in Kyle's place. Had they checked his eyes? I couldn't believe he'd carried all this gentleness around inside his big angry body. It must have been having Jodi back, being so close to what he wanted. Even knowing that this was his Jodi's body, I was surprised that he could expend so much kindness for the soul inside it. I would have thought such compassion was beyond him. â€Å"How's the Healer?† Jared asked me. â€Å"She woke up, just before I came to find you,† I said. I heard more than one sigh of relief in the darkness. â€Å"She's disoriented, though, and very frightened,† I warned them all. â€Å"She can't remember her name. Doc's working with her. She's going to be even more scared when she sees all of you. Try to be quiet and move slowly, okay?† â€Å"Yes, yes,† the voices whispered in the darkness. â€Å"And, Jeb, do you think you could lose the gun? She's a little afraid of humans still.† â€Å"Uh-okay,† Jeb answered. â€Å"Afraid of humans?† Kyle murmured. â€Å"We're the bad guys,† Ian reminded him, squeezing my hand. I squeezed it back, glad for the warmth of his touch, the pressure of his fingers. How much longer would I have the feeling of a hand warm around mine? When was the last time I would walk down this tunnel? Was it this time? No. Not yet, Mel whispered. I was suddenly trembling. Ian's hand tightened again, and so did Jared's. We walked in silence for a few moments. â€Å"Kyle?† Sunny's timid voice asked. â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"I don't want to go back to the Bears.† â€Å"You don't have to. You can go somewhere else.† â€Å"But I can't stay here?† â€Å"No. I'm sorry, Sunny.† There was a little hitch in her breathing. I was glad it was dark. No one could see the tears that started rolling down my face. I had no free hand to wipe them away, so I let them fall onto my shirt. We finally reached the end of the tunnel. The sunlight streamed from the mouth of the hospital, reflecting off the dust motes dancing in the air. I could hear Doc murmuring inside. â€Å"That's very good,† he was saying. â€Å"Keep thinking of details. You know your old address-your name can't be far behind, eh? How does this feel? Not tender?† â€Å"Careful,† I whispered. Kyle paused at the edge of the arch, Sunny still clinging to his side, and motioned for me to go first. I took a deep breath and walked slowly into Doc's place. I announced my presence in a low, even voice. â€Å"Hello.† The Healer's host started and gasped out a little shriek. â€Å"Just me again,† I said reassuringly. â€Å"It's Wanda,† Doc reminded her. The woman was sitting up now, and Doc was sitting beside her with his hand on her arm. â€Å"That's the soul,† the woman whispered anxiously to Doc. â€Å"Yes, but she's a friend.† The woman eyed me doubtfully. â€Å"Doc? You've got a few more visitors. Is that okay?† Doc looked at the woman. â€Å"These are all friends, all right? More of the humans who live here with me. None of them would ever dream of hurting you. Can they come in?† The woman hesitated, then nodded cautiously. â€Å"Okay,† she whispered. â€Å"This is Ian,† I said, motioning him forward. â€Å"And Jared, and Jeb.† One by one, they walked into the room and stood beside me. â€Å"And this is Kyle and†¦ uh, Sunny.† Doc's eyes bugged wide as Kyle, Sunny attached to his side, entered the room. â€Å"Are there any more?† the woman whispered. Doc cleared his throat, trying to compose himself. â€Å"Yes. There are a lot of people who live here. All†¦ well, mostly humans,† he added, staring at Sunny. â€Å"Trudy is on her way,† I told Doc. â€Å"Maybe Trudy could†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I glanced at Sunny and Kyle. â€Å"†¦ find a room for†¦ her to rest in?† Doc nodded, still wide-eyed. â€Å"That might be a good idea.† â€Å"Who's Trudy?† the woman whispered. â€Å"She's very nice. She'll take care of you.† â€Å"Is she human, or is she like that one?† She nodded toward me. â€Å"She's human.† This seemed to ease the woman's mind. â€Å"Oh,† Sunny gasped behind me. I turned to see her staring at the cryotanks that held the Healers. They were standing in the middle of Doc's desk, the lights on top glowing muted red. On the floor in front of the desk, the seven remaining empty tanks were piled in an untidy heap. Tears sprang to Sunny's eyes again, and she buried her face against Kyle's chest. â€Å"I don't want to go! I want to stay with you,† she moaned to the big man she seemed to trust so completely. â€Å"I know, Sunny. I'm sorry.† Sunny broke down into sobs. I blinked fast, trying to keep the tears from my own eyes. I crossed the small space to where Sunny stood, and stroked her springy black hair. â€Å"I need to talk to her for a minute, Kyle,† I murmured. He nodded, his face troubled, and pulled the clinging girl from his side. â€Å"No, no,† she begged. â€Å"It's okay,† I promised. â€Å"He's not going anywhere. I just want to ask you a few questions.† Kyle turned her to face me, and her arms locked around me. I pulled her to the far corner of the room, as far from the nameless woman as I could get. I didn't want our conversation to confuse or frighten the Healer's host any more than she already was. Kyle followed, never more than a few inches away. We sat on the floor, facing the wall. â€Å"Jeez,† Kyle murmured. â€Å"I didn't think it would be like this. This really sucks.† â€Å"How did you find her? And catch her?† I asked. The sobbing girl didn't react as I questioned him; she just kept crying on my shoulder. â€Å"What happened? Why is she like this?† â€Å"Well, I thought she might be in Las Vegas. I went there first, before I went on to Portland. See, Jodi was really close to her mother, and that's where Doris lived. I thought, seeing how you were about Jared and the kid, that maybe she would go there, even when she wasn't Jodi. And I was right. They were all there at the same old house, Doris ‘s house: Doris, and her husband, Warren-they had other names, but I didn't hear them clearly-and Sunny. I watched them all day, until it was nighttime. Sunny was in Jodi's old room, alone. I snuck in after they'd all been asleep for hours. I yanked Sunny up, threw her over my shoulder, and jumped out the window. I thought she was going to start screaming, so I was really booking it back to the jeep. Then I was afraid because she didn't start screaming. She was just so quiet! I was afraid she had†¦ you know. Like that guy we caught once.† I winced-I had a more recent memory. â€Å"So I pulled her off my shoulder, and she was alive, just staring up at me, all wide-eyed. Still not screaming. I carried her back to the jeep. I'd been planning to tie her up, but†¦ she didn't look that upset. She wasn't trying to get away, at least. So I just buckled her in and started driving. â€Å"She just stared at me for a long time, and then finally she said, You're Kyle,' and I said, Yeah, who are you?' and she told me her name. What is it again?† â€Å"Sunlight Passing Through the Ice,† Sunny whispered brokenly. â€Å"I like Sunny, though. It's nice.† â€Å"Anyway,† Kyle went on after clearing his throat. â€Å"She didn't mind talking to me at all. She wasn't afraid like I'd thought she'd be. So we talked.† He was quiet for a moment. â€Å"She was happy to see me.† â€Å"I used to dream about him all the time,† Sunny whispered to me. â€Å"Every night. I kept hoping the Seekers would find him; I missed him so much†¦ When I saw him, I thought it was the old dream again.† I swallowed loudly. Kyle reached across me to lay his hand on her cheek. â€Å"She's a good kid, Wanda. Can't we send her someplace really nice?† â€Å"That's what I wanted to ask her about. Where have you lived, Sunny?† I was vaguely aware of the subdued voices of the others, greeting Trudy's arrival. We had our backs to them. I wanted to see what was going on, but I was also glad not to have the distraction. I tried to concentrate on the crying soul. â€Å"Just here and with the Bears. I was there five life terms. But I like it better here. I haven't had even a quarter of a life term here!† â€Å"I know. Believe me, I understand. Is there anywhere else, though, that you've ever wanted to go? The Flowers, maybe? It's nice there; I've been.† â€Å"I don't want to be a plant,† she mumbled into my shoulder. â€Å"The Spiders†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I began, but then let my voice trail off. The Spiders were not the right place for Sunny. â€Å"I'm tired of cold. And I like colors.† â€Å"I know.† I sighed. â€Å"I haven't been a Dolphin, but I hear it's nice there. Color, mobility, family†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"They're all so far away. By the time I got anywhere, Kyle would be†¦ He'd be†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She hiccuped and then started crying again. â€Å"Don't you have any other choices?† Kyle asked anxiously. â€Å"Aren't there a lot more places out there?† I could hear Trudy talking to the Healer's host, but I tuned out the words. Let the humans take care of their own for the moment. â€Å"Not that the off-world ships are going to,† I told him, shaking my head. â€Å"There are lots of worlds, but only a few, mostly the newer ones, are still open for settling. And I'm sorry, Sunny, but I have to send you far away. The Seekers want to find my friends here, and they'd bring you back if they could, so you could show them the way.† â€Å"I don't even know the way,† she sobbed. My shoulder was drenched with her tears. â€Å"He covered my eyes.† Kyle looked at me as if I could produce some kind of miracle to make this all work out perfectly. Like the medicine I'd provided, some kind of magic. But I knew that I was out of magic, out of happy endings-for the soul half of the equation, at least. I stared back hopelessly at Kyle. â€Å"It's just the Bears, the Flowers, and the Dolphins,† I told him. â€Å"I won't send her to the Fire Planet.† The small woman shuddered at the name. â€Å"Don't worry, Sunny. You'll like the Dolphins. They'll be nice. Of course they'll be nice.† She sobbed harder. I sighed and moved on. â€Å"Sunny, I need to ask you about Jodi.† Kyle stiffened beside me. â€Å"What about her?† Sunny mumbled. â€Å"Is she†¦ is she in there with you? Can you hear her?† Sunny sniffed and looked up at me. â€Å"I don't understand what you mean.† â€Å"Does she ever talk to you? Are you ever aware of her thoughts?† â€Å"My†¦ body's? Her thoughts? She doesn't have any. I'm here now.† I nodded slowly. â€Å"Is that bad?† Kyle whispered. â€Å"I don't know enough about it to tell. It's probably not good, though.† Kyle's eyes tightened. â€Å"How long have you been here, Sunny?† She frowned, thinking. â€Å"How long is it, Kyle? Five years? Six? You disappeared before I came home.† â€Å"Six,† he said. â€Å"And how old are you?† I asked her. â€Å"I'm twenty-seven.† That surprised me-she was such a little thing, so young looking. I couldn't believe she was six years older than Melanie. â€Å"Why does that matter?† Kyle asked. â€Å"I'm not sure. It just seems like the more time someone spent as a human before they became a soul, the better chance they might have at†¦ making a recovery. The greater the percentage of their life they spent human, the more memories they have, the more connections, the more years being called by the right name†¦ I don't know.† â€Å"Is twenty-one years enough?† he asked, his voice desperate. â€Å"I guess we'll find out.† â€Å"It's not fair!† Sunny wailed. â€Å"Why do you get to stay? Why can't I stay, if you can?† I had to swallow hard. â€Å"That wouldn't be fair, would it? But I don't get to stay, Sunny. I have to go, too. And soon. Maybe we'll leave together.† Perhaps she'd be happier if she thought I was going to the Dolphins with her. By the time she knew otherwise, Sunny would have a different host with different emotions and no tie to this human beside me. Maybe. Anyway, it would be too late. â€Å"I have to go, Sunny, just like you. I have to give my body back, too.† And then, flat and hard from right behind us, Ian's voice broke the quiet like the crack of a whip. â€Å"What?†

Internal Analysis of Wall-Mart Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Internal Analysis of Wall-Mart - Case Study Example The paper also details how Wal-Mart can guard against the internal weaknesses and avoid the external threats. Wal-Mart Stores is the number one retail store in the World in volume. The company has more than 7,250 stores," including about 975 discount stores, 2,800 combination discount and grocery stores (Wal-Mart Supercenters in the US and ASDA in the UK), and 590 warehouse stores (SAM'S CLUB)". (Hoovers. Com) The Company is the number one retail store in Canada and Mexico and owns 95 percent stakes in the largest Japanese retailer SEIYU. The company is operating in most parts of Asia, Europe and South America. The company has achieved a Turnover of $ 378,799 million for the fiscal year ended January 2008 employing about 2,100,000 people. In the area of management Wal-Mart has been a committed entity in respect of its responsibilities towards customers as well as communities. The corporate structure of Wal-Mart has three core values of respect for the individual, service to their customers, and striving for excellence. These values have enabled the company achieve the fete of the largest retailer of the world. The marketing strategy in the form of Every Day Low Price (EDLP) strategy has been found to be successful in enhancing the sales growth. The customer oriented approach is one other core value of the company. With ten different divisions of the company available in one place the customer can have a one stop shopping experience which is one of the core strengths of the company. On the financial aspects the company has shown consistent sales and profitability growth during the past years. The company has all its financial ratios indicating its financial strength. The stock price movements are yet another indication of the financial strength of the company. The company has strong and well oriented distribution networks, well equipped and mechanized distribution centers which provide an efficient supply chain management and enormous economies of scale in the operations of the company. The company employs the latest and most sophisticated information and communication technology which enables the company to operate with a clock like precision. Weaknesses The absence of a proper and formal mission statement is the fundamental weakness of the company. The company's mission statement does not provide the necessary definition of their business and does not also provide the direction for the employees. The company has not recognized diversity in the employment with few females in the top management and few minorities. This is a dent in the corporate image of the company. Non-unionization is another weakness of the company. The employees do not have a forum to raise their concerns and hence the employees lack bargaining power. On the marketing side the company has the biggest weakness of continuous expansion. The company has acquired the hatred of many social organizations in smaller towns across United Stated because of the adverse economic impact the company is creating on smaller towns and the trade within these towns. The major complaint in the operation of the store is the increased average time that an

Event project management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Event project management - Assignment Example It is in the interest of both the team and the clients for St. Patrick’s Day turns out to be a memorable event among Huddersfield habitat. Core values set the framework that all players in a given field work towards a common goal and harmoniously. The case still applies to the group for the event to be prosperous then each member is obligated to do due diligence. EMBOK has five core values that are believed to be the guiding principle for an event just like St. Patrick Day Parade. The values are creativity, strategic thinking, continuous improvement, ethics, and integration. The model identified the values should operate in a synergy. One value should lead to the other and vice versa. For instance, a creative idea should incorporate the needs of people affected by the idea. The team using the core values from EMBOK will make the goals for St. Patrick’s Day Parade successful. Creativity of the team is exhibited by the sourcing for funds to be used during the parade. St. Patrick had no charitable number and therefore, could not get any charity. This did not stop them from planning for the event, but motivated them to be more creative. Another creativity; is identified by the group when they identify the need for face painters and balloon blowers to entertain the children. EPRAS fails to identify the core values that will enhance the outcome of an event. EMBOK becomes resilient by this element in an event planning and management. Comparing EPRAS to EMBOK to this element leaves EMBOK to be a superb model in setting grounds for other stages/phases to be completed. The team selecting this element is for a good course in delivering the objectives for St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The core values will be the guiding principles for all stages and the next St. Patrick’s day. EPRAS cannot be regarded as irrelevant model in managing events in fact it is among the best in ensuring deliverables are met. The only deficit in it is that it does not identify values

Equity and Trusts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Equity and Trusts - Essay Example By the delivery of the gift, it can thus be understood that the gift can be considered as perfect when the donor of the gift actually surrenders the control or the right of the property. The intention of the donor making the gift is identified by the court with regard to certain circumstances. These circumstances include the relationship between the parties involved in the exchange of the gift, behaviour of the donor in the event of the exchange of the gift and the actual amount of the gift. The donor must also possess the legal capacity to deliver a gift to someone. Correspondingly, the final element is the acceptance of the gift wherein the person taking the gift must accept it at the time of the delivery. On completion of these three elements, the court would recognise such gift as a ‘perfect gift’. If in any case, the court is unable to identify the following three elements in the exchange of the gift then it is considered as the ‘imperfect gift’, which was also ruled in the Milroy v Lord case2. The aim of this study is to reveal the actual meaning of the perfect gift and the process through which the law has developed exception that the equity is unable to assist the volunteer to perfect an imperfect gift. The study has also tried to analyse the scope of further development in the particular area. Exceptions to the Maxim That ‘Equity Will Not Assist a Volunteer to Perfect an Imperfect Gift’ In the Milroy v Lord case, the main issue intended to prove whether the transferor of the property was really the trustee so that the gift could be treated as a ‘perfect gift’ or an ‘imperfect gift’ if otherwise. The question that rose in the context of this case was that the property was actually registered in the name of Tom Medley or was this was only an interest of Elena in order to enjoy the full right of the property. The case was in possession of the property and the limitations that were levied on the equity of the gift. Elena, niece of Tom Medley was getting married very soon. After the marriage of Elena, Medley had given some dividends from the shares to Elena, which was immediately handed over to the trustee or the Lord. Lord had deposited these shares in the Bank of Louisiana. Soon after the death of Medley, various issues rose such as whether these shares in the bank came under the possession of Medley or were they are the part of Lord’s property. Nevertheless, the real fact was that the shares were not once enumerated in the name of Lord rather it was always in the name of Medley3. At the end of the case, the court held a decision that Elena had no possession of any kind of property in the Bank of Louisiana as the title was never handed over to Lord from Medley. In this case, Lord was only acting as the trustee of the shares but the actual beneficiary was Elena. This case has given rise to a number of issues such as the ‘creation of trust’ and the ex ception that the ‘equity will not assist a volunteer to perfect an imperfect gift’4. In a general sense, trust is a legally binding agreement in which an individual transfers the legal control of the property to another person, namely the trustee, to manage the property effectively for the sake of the beneficiary. A trust usually is levied during the lifetime of the individual

THE ART OF ENGLISH Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

THE ART OF ENGLISH - Assignment Example By analysing individual works, the varying degrees of creativity and literariness can be observed. To begin, it is important to understand two distinct concepts: creativity and literariness. According to the textbook entitled â€Å"The Art of English: Literary Creativity,† creativity is defined as the skill level of the writer in areas such as â€Å"sounds, words, phrases, and overall linguistic form† (Goodman & O’Halloran, 2006). Literariness is a concept that relates to different kinds of literature such as those that are more traditional like poetry, short stories, and novels. However, literariness can also refer to other types of writing such as blogging, websites, pamphlets, and print media advertising(Goodman & O’Halloran, 2006). These two elements are very important in the process of analysis. According to the textbook entitled â€Å"The Art of English: Everyday Creativity,† in order to perform a complete textual analysis, a linguistic analys is, interactional analysis, and ethnographic analysis are needed (Maybin &Swann, 2006, p.429).Completing each analysis will reveal the elements that make up the degree of creativity within the piece. Linguistic analysis looks at the individual language elements such as metaphors, word usage, repetition, parallelism, etc., (Maybin &Swann, 2006, p.429). ... Each of these also helps a reader to take a more cognitive based approach to the text by looking at how it contributes to the bigger picture of human existence. The poem entitled â€Å"I felt a Funeral, in my Brain,† by Emily Dickinson, is a poem that fits within the literary world. Emily Dickinson, who was born in Massachusetts on the 10th of December 1830, is considered to be one of America’s greatest poets and produced over 1,700 poems throughout her life (Pettinger, 2006). On the surface, it appears to be a poem about a person witnessing their own funeral. Whether or not this is truly the situation is up to the reader. Emily Dickinson is an author whose work often inspires analysis due to the multitude of contextual meanings that may be applied to her work. This quality is known as polysemy (Goodman & O’Halloran, 2006, p.70). The critical analysis of the poem through the inherent clues of the poem’s linguistics may find evidence to support several of t hese theories. This particular poem has sparked multiple analyses. Some readers believe that the poem is about a person’s descent into madness. Others think that it is about writer’s block. Still others claim that the poem is simply about death as the basic context might imply. The fact of the matter is that it does not matter who is right in the end. The myriad of possible meanings speaks to this poem’s high degree of creativity. In terms of linguistics, Dickinson utilizes heavy deviation. Deviation is defined as being when words, phrases, and grammatical structures draw attention themselves (Goodman & O’Halloran, 2006, p.70).This can be seen in the poem by the capitalization of words that are not normally capitalized such as â€Å"Funeral, Brain, Mourners, Sense, Service, Drum, etc†

Soil Consolidation during Construction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Soil Consolidation during Construction - Essay Example Generally, any undrained loading or unloading will produce excess pore pressures in the loading area. Hence, construction of any type of infrastructure generates pressure on the soil on which the construction takes place. The excess pore pressures may be positive or negative, depending on the long term steady state pore pressures. In time, these excess pore pressures give rise to hydraulic gradients which cause seepage flow which then results to changes in the volume of the soil. Hence, the changes in soil volume are based upon the changes of effective stress as the excess pore pressures disperse. The gradual reduction in volume of a fully saturated soil of low permeability which is caused when stress is what consolidation refers to. More specifically, consolidation is the union of seepage caused by hydraulic gradients with compression due to the flow of the leakages and changes of effective stress placed against the soil. Consolidation leads to drainage of some of the pore water, which triggers the continuity of soil consolidation until the excess pore water pressure caused by the stress against the soil has completely dispersed. Through the test of time, consolidation leads to settlement of foundations or constructions due to the gradual softening of soil in excavations. Therefore, consolidation settlement is basically the vertical dislocation of the construction as a result of the volume change of soil during the consolidation. Hence, if a building is built over a layer of saturated clay, consolidation settlement will cause a stratum overlying a clay layer. Likewise, if an excavation is made in a saturated clay, crowding, the reverse of settlement, can be observed in the bottom of the excavation. This, on the other hand, is due to swelling of the clay resulting to a gradual increase in volume of the soil. The most basic case of consolidation is that of one-dimensional on which the strain generated against the soil is zero-lateral. One-dimensional consolidation occurs when all seepage flow and the effective stress placed against the soil is vertical. Hence, there should be no radial seepage or strain. If effective lateral stress is placed against the soil, the settlement will occur faster. This is because of the deformation of the soil under undrained conditions, in addition to consolidation settlement. Immediate settlement can be estimated using the results from elastic theory, which will be able to determine the elastic properties of the soil. Furthermore, before a structure is completely conceptualised, the magnitude and the rate of consolidation settlement should first be predicted using effective tools. One of the popular processes used in predicting the progress of consolidation is by setting up piezometers in order to document the change in pore water pressure with time. The scale of consolidation settlement can be determined by recording the levels of appropriate reference points on a construction and in the surface on which it will be built. In such measurement, levelling of the reference points should be accurate, working from a point of reference which is not subject to any type of settlement. During this process, every output should be documented, as this will determine the competence of theoretical methods to be used. The attributes of a soil during one-dimensional consolidation can be measured through oedometer test. This test, developed

Entrepreneurship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 5

Entrepreneurship - Essay Example In addition, an entrepreneur is primarily responsible for successful development as well as failure of any business. The field wherein the people conduct activities relating to entrepreneurship based operations is known as entrepreneurship ecosystem (Sharma & Chrisman, 1999). In relation to the above context, the intent of the essay is to describe about the notion of entrepreneurship with utmost focus on various significant aspects. These aspects generally entail entrepreneurial attitudinal behaviours, skill development and values among others. An entrepreneur is regarded as the main or key organiser of a company. It is strongly believed that without the help as well as the total involvement of an entrepreneur, the businesses could not be able to attain their respective targets. It is worth mentioning that an entrepreneur should possess several traits of a mogul in his or her behaviour. More specifically, it can be elaborated that an entrepreneur should remain confident while performing any activity. The presence of confidence within the nature of an entrepreneur is a behavioural trait of a successful businessman. Moreover, it is also reckoned as a hallmark for the entrepreneurs (Action COACH Business Coaching, 2014). Apart from the above stated attributes, an entrepreneur must bear positive attitudes during the entire tenure of the business process. These positive attitudes will certainly increase or improve in building the key skills of an entrepreneur. In terms of behaviour, attitude as well as skill development, an ent repreneur should have the focus over capturing the need for achievements, open-mindedness, vagueness, locus of control as well as risk taking tendency. An entrepreneur should have the flexibility in its behaviour, so it can address the changes made in external as well as internal business factors. More

A Manifesto for Sustainable Design Essay Example for Free

A Manifesto for Sustainable Design Essay This manifesto proposes an approach to sustainable design that I am interested in exploring during my time studying architecture. The idea of sustainability is a complex one, not without apparent contradictions. This makes it difficult to define in a wholly satisfactory manner. For the purposes of this manifesto I will advert to the definition proposed by Jason McLennan who asserts that sustainable design: â€Å"seeks to maximize the quality of the built environment, while minimizing or eliminating negative impact to the natural environment. † I find this definition particularly useful in the emphasis which it places on quality. By quality, in this context, I mean an approach to building which emphasises not only thoughtful design but also the careful use of materials; these considerations are crucial to achieve sustainable development. â€Å"Quality† as the architect Thomas Sandell says â€Å"is always sustainable†: this holds particularly true if we return to the most basic meaning of that adjective – â€Å"long lasting.† My manifesto would involve seven basic considerations: a structure should be layered, generous, contextual, connected to nature, innovative, stimulating and idealistic. I propose to examine each of these points in turn, aware that they can be generally grouped under the heading of sensitivity. As I see it, a sensitive approach to architecture is one that fundamentally responds to the issues of site, user and impact, while not excluding other concerns – and all this in a way that is considered, thoughtful and restrained. These, then, are the fundamentals of my approach to design. 1. Layered According to T.S Eliot, â€Å"Genuine poetry communicates before it is understood†: I believe the same holds true for genuine architecture. It affects us at a pre-conscious level and its impact transcends the immediate, sensory, effects of the building. As I see it, architecture is not a matter of superficial effects. Its must transcend that which is little more than eye-catching gimmickry. A good example of what I would consider a layered design is Erik Gunnar Asplund’s Woodland Chapel built in 1922 (Fig. 1). Located on the grounds of the Woodland Crematorium in Enskede outside Stockholm, it was built to accommodate the funerals of children. At first, the chapel seems unremarkable in its elemental simplicity – as Simon Unwin puts it â€Å"without pretentions to being anything more than a rudimentary hut in the woods.† However, in quiet and richly suggestive ways, Asplund imbues this seemingly uncomplicated building with a poetic sense of an ancient and timeless place for burial. As J.R Curtis puts it, this apparently simple chapel was: â€Å"guided by underlying mythical themes to do with the transition from life to death, the procession of burial and redemption and the transubstantiation of natural elements such as water and light. There were echoes too of Nordic burial mounds and of Christ’s route to Calvary.† Fig. 1 Erik Gunnar Asplund, Woodland Chapel, 1922  One striking aspect can be found in Asplund’s sensitive treatment of the theme of resurrection. The idea is usually made explicit through the use of iconography; Asplund, however, evokes the notion of rebirth through his use of subtle association. The Chapel, for example, has only one source of light, which comes from above. The eye is therefore drawn upwards, to the heavens. This effect is accentuated by the pervasive darkness of the building. Like Robert Venturi, Asplund opts for â€Å"richness of meaning rather than clarity of meaning.† As a result, his Woodland Chapel has an uplifting rather than a depressing effect. His Chapel becomes an affirmation of life rather than an acceptance of defeat, and this appeals to me very much. It is no surprise to discover that Asplund himself – in a 1940 article on his crematorium building in Byggmà ¤staren – referred to the Woodland Cemetery, in which the Chapel lies, as a ‘biblical landscape’. Whatever else it is, the Bible is a book of hope. 2. Generous â€Å"Design is people† Jane Jacobs Jane Jacobs’s fundamental commitment to ordinary human beings is something I admire. Generous architecture offers an approach which puts everyday people at the forefront of the design. This is an inclusive architecture which does not limit itself only to the client and/or private users of the building.  Nobody is excluded. An example of this kind of what might be described as â€Å"generous† architecture can be found in Norwegian firm Snà ¸hetta’s Oslo Opera House on the waters of the Oslo Fjord, completed in 2007 (Fig. 2). Fig. 2 Snà ¸hetta, Oslo Opera House, 2007 Snà ¸hetta are concerned with the social dimension of architecture and this design imaginatively reinterprets the traditional opera houses that â€Å"conventionally limit their public spaces to exterior plazas or grand lobbies, often only accessible during opening hours.† What is striking here is that their Opera House succeeds in giving back to the city a public space. The sloping rooftop becomes a new public area: a recreation space and viewing platform that you can walk on, sit on, sunbathe on, even snowboard on. As a result anyone, whether interested in Opera or not, can enjoy the space. The building has been called a social democratic monument† by founding partner of Snà ¸hetta, Craig Dykers – and one can see why. In a recent television interview, Dykers went on to remark: â€Å"There is a sense of being able to place your feet onto the building that gives you a sense of ownership. At a certain point you no longer see the building as an architect’s building but as your own building† This is the kind of architecture which interests me. The fact that this building is sited in the middle of a highly populated area shows what can be done to help people live a fuller life – including those who have no focused interest in the Arts. This approach seems particularly relevant as more and more people live in cities and comes as a reminder that a city need not be a soulless, inhuman place. 3. Contextual â€Å"Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan.† Eliel Saarinen Architecture is inextricably rooted to place. An awareness of context then, would seem to be a sine qua non but unfortunately this is not always the case. An understanding of the social, historical, environmental, cultural and human qualities of a place is vital to building to best effect. By  Ã¢â‚¬Å"contextual†, then, I mean an architecture that is sensitive to the history and memory of the site. This would by no means exclude an awareness of the buildings that surround it. I admire Alvar Aalto for his understanding of the importance of relating design to the most significant features of the local site: the kind of features that are, as Michael Trencher puts it, â€Å"either physically self-evident or historically and culturally relevant.† Aalto’s design for the Enso-Gutzeit Headquarters in Helsinki, (1959-62), affords a good example of this approach (Fig. 3). Fig. 3 Alvar Aalto, Enso-Gutzeit Headquarters in Helsinki, 1959-62 The site for this building was in the old, Neo-Classical centre of the city and Aalto sought to respond to Engel’s buildings on the harbour and to the Church on a nearby hill. Arising out of his respect for the site, the scale of Aalto’s office building derives â€Å"both its horizontal and vertical character from the nearby historical buildings, hence its symmetrical, formal faà §ade.† A more recent example of contextually sensitive design is afforded by Grafton Architect’s proposal for the new Faculty of Economics for the University of Toulouse, still under construction. While envisaging their project, the architects walked from one side of the city to the other, â€Å"gauging the character of the brick facades, the polygonal towers, the transitions from streets to courts and the underlying spatial patterns.† The resulting design offers a sensitive response to the layered history and unique geography of the site. As founding partner Shelley McNamara has put it, the building â€Å"weaves into the mesh of the city.† 4. Connected to Nature â€Å"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.† Frank Lloyd Wright By nature I mean a world predominantly uninterfered with by man. Building in a way that is sensitive to what is natural, its resources and habitats is a key issue in current debates about sustainable design. That said, it is nearly one hundred years since Frank Lloyd Wright offered architectural proposals showing how to live in harmony with the environment. He called this â€Å"an organic architecture†¦of nature, for nature.† Lloyd Wright also understood the connection between nature and  well-being: â€Å"the closer man associated himself with nature, the greater his personal, spiritual and even physical well-being grew and expanded as a direct result of that association.† It is hard not to agree wholeheartedly with Lloyd Wright’s philosophy. As I see it, Architecture must connect to the natural world—not just in terms of the use of resources or in merely avoiding the negative impact of building on the environment—but also, as importantly, in terms of what a connection to nature can offer. His design for the Kaufmann Residence at Falling Water provides an obvious example of Lloyd Wright’s respect for nature and the natural world (Fig. 4). Fig. 4: Frank Lloyd Wright, Falling Water, 1935 At Falling Water, as Neil Levine remarks: â€Å"you do not ask where the house ends and the natural environment begins.† This sensitivity is present throughout his oeuvre, so that his buildings often seem to grow out of the environment and never appear at odds with it. 5. Innovative There is often an assumption that to be truly innovative is to break away from all that went before, to create something totally new. I do not agree. As I see it, the most interesting avant-garde architecture has always been steeped in an understanding of the past. As T.S Eliot said â€Å"To be totally original is to be totally bad.† Just as every human being comes from parents, so every new idea owes something to what has gone before. While not rejecting the achievements of the past, Le Corbusier understood that new challenges require innovative thinking. He proposed radical ideas to enrich modern living, â€Å"from private villas to large scale social housing to utopian urban plans.† Yet his inexhaustible inventiveness, â€Å"that heretical habit, driving-force of all his artistic desires† was always rooted in an understanding of what had gone before. His 1955 design for the Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut, in Ronchamp, (Fig. 5) provides a good example, though it marked a profound change in direction from his earlier works and a move away from standardization and the machine aesthetic adverted to in Towards a New Architecture. J.R Curtis even suggests that â€Å"a nostalgia for the giant ruins of antiquity† began increasingly to show itself in Le Corbusier’s  imaginatively forward thinking work. Fig. 5 Le Corbusier, Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut, 1955 In a manner similar to the approach of Asplund for his Woodland Chapel, Le Corbusier sought to evoke religious emotions through the play of space, light and form rather than relying on traditional iconography. In my opinion, what particularly makes the building exciting is its mixture of old and new, its daringly original design linking with an organic awareness of past forms. Curtis suggests a synthesis of influences: from Hadrian’s Villa to the mud buildings from the Mzab in Algeria, to Dolmens and Cycladic buildings, to the Parthenon itself. Out of an awareness of these sources, Le Corbusier manages to invent a new vocabulary. Other examples of this syncretism mixed with an innovative approach can be found in his designs for the Villa Madrot in Le Prdet, the Pavillon Suisse in Paris and the Duval Facory in Saint Die. The result has been described as â€Å"a wholly new formal idiom†Ã¢â‚¬â€ and one which owes its impact to the combination of the past and the wholly modern. An interesting contemporary comparison is The Sea Organ, in Zadar Croatia by Nikola BaÃ… ¡ic, built in 2005. The architect consulted master organ makers and Dalmatian stone carvers in his wish to create an experimental installation on the quayside to create a natural musical organ powered by the waves of the sea. Underneath its elegant white stone steps are 35 musically tuned tubes, through which the waves create random harmonic sounds. This kind of architecture excites me: strikingly innovative, yet sensitively grounded to the history of the site and traditions of the local people. 6. Stimulative Stimulative architecture, I would define as that which lifts the spirit, making us feel more alive. It surprises and challenges us even as it makes us appreciate more the needs it fulfils. Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s design for the Glasgow School of Art affords a good example (Fig. 6). Built in two phases from 1897-1899 and 1907-1909, the School still excites not least by its subtle playfulness. Around every corner the visitor is struck by something unexpected. Fig. 6, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Glasgow School of Art, 1899 On a closer look, a fusion of opposites emerges. Materials range widely and include leaded stained glass, exposed concrete and painted softwood. Their interplay is matched by an unexpected synthesis of light and dark, mass and plane, the old and the new, the solid and the void. As a result, the building imparts what Denys Lasdun calls â€Å"the brooding air of frozen excitement.† The fundamental stress lies in its manipulation of space. It seems to provide an example of what David Brett describes as a kind of â€Å"poetic workmanship† where structure, features, interiors and furnishings become â€Å"subject to a unifying system of forms, metaphors and unconscious associations.† 7. Idealistic This concept ranges widely and includes respect for people coupled with a hope to advance and uplift. It is the opposite of cynical or purely utilitarian. A building finally is more than something purely functional. It should have a spirit and not turn its back on artistic considerations. I would argue that idealism is the underlying principle to all the approaches of the architects above. Even if idealism is a difficult idea to define, it still has a reality and nowhere is it, and conversely the cynical, more obvious than in architecture. â€Å"The ultimate goal of architecture†, said Aalto in 1957,†¨Ã¢â‚¬Å"is to create a paradise†¦ every house, every product†¨of architecture†¦should be a fruit of our endeavour to†¨build an earthly paradise for people.† This idea appeals greatly to me and would be one of the basic impulses behind my approach to architecture. Conclusion In conclusion, the seven points of this manifesto provide an overview of some approaches to sustainable design that I am interested in exploring during my time studying architecture. These basic considerations propose a design that is layered, generous, contextual, connected to nature, innovative, stimulating and idealistic. These approaches can be loosely grouped under the idea of sensitivity, that is a respect for people, nature, site and  precedent. Examples of these considerations can be found in the work of architects, both past and present: from the timeless profundity of Asplund’s Woodland Chapel to the striking innovations of Le Corbusier and more recent examples from Grafton Architects Toulouse Economics Department and Snà ¸hetta’s Oslo Opera House. This is a manifesto for a lasting architecture. The bottom line is that sustainability is not a design aesthetic, as Robert Stern points out: â€Å"it is an ethic, a basic consideration that we have to have as architects designing buildings†¦ in 10 years were not going to talk about sustainability anymore, because its going to be built into the core processes of architecture†. List of Illustrations Fig. 1: Erik Gunnar Asplund, Woodland Chapel, 1922 (Source: http://www.fubiz.net accessed January 12, 2012) Fig. 2: Snà ¸hetta, Oslo Opera House, 2007 (Source: http://www.mimoa.eu accessed January 12, 2012) Fig. 3: Alvar Aalto, Enso-Gutzeit Headquarters in Helsinki, 1959-62 (Source: http://www.fubiz.net accessed January 14, 2012) Fig. 4: Frank Lloyd Wright, Falling Water, 1935 (Source: http://www.mimoa.eu accessed January 12, 2012) Fig. 5: Le Corbusier, Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut, 1955 (http://farm4.static.flickr.com accessed January 20, 2012) Fig. 6: Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Glasgow School of Art, 1899 (Source: http://www.glasgowarchitecture.co.uk accessed January 12, 2012) Bibliography Allen, Brooks H. (editor), Le Corbusier: Essays, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1987 Anderson, Jane, Architectural Design, London: Thames Hudson Press, 2011 http://www.architectural-review.com accessed November 22, 2011 http://bigthink.com accessed December 12, 2011 Blundell Jones, Peter, Gunnar Asplund, London: Phaidon, 1995. Blake, Peter, Frank Lloyd Wright: Architecture and Space, London: Penguin Books, 1964 http://www.blackwoodgallery.ca accessed November 11, 2011 Brett, David, C.R Mackintosh: The Poetics of Workmanship, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1992 Brooks, Bruce, Frank Lloyd Wright, 1867-1959: Building for Democracy, Hong Kong: Taschen, 2006 http://www.coldsplinters.com accessed 22 November, 2011 ‘Craig Dykers Interview’ GRITtv on youtube.com, 12 November, 2011 Curtis, William J.R, Modern Architecture Since 1900, London: Phaidon, 1996 Eliot, T. S., â€Å"Dante.† in Selected Essays New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1950 Elkin, T., McLaren, D. and Hillman, M., Reviving the City: towards sustainable urban development, London: Friends of the Earth, 1991 Gill, Brendan, Many Masks: A Life of Frank Lloyd Wright, New York: Putman, 1987 http://www.graftonarchitects.ie accessed October 25, 2011 Heinz, Thomas A., The Vision of Frank Lloyd Wright. London: Chartwell Books, 2000 Hertzberger, Herman, Space and the Architect, Rotterdam: 010 Press, 2000 Hoffmann, Donald, Frank Lloyd Wrights Fallingwater: The House and Its History, New York: Dover Publications, 1978 Honour, Hugh, A World History of Art, London: Laurence King, 2005 http://imodern.com accessed January 22, 2012 Jencks, Charles, Le Corbusier and the Continental Revolution in Architecture, New York: The Monacelli Press, 2000 Maddex, Diane, Frank Lloyd Wright: Inside and Out, London: Pavilion, 2002 Middleton, Haydn, Frank Lloyd Wright, New York: Heinemann, 2001 McLennan, Jason, The Philosophy of Sustainable Design, New York: Ecotone Publishing, 2004 Pallasmaa, Juhani, The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses, Wiley-Academy, 2005 Pearson, Paul David, Alvar Aalto and the International Style, New York: Whitney Library of Design, 1978 Quantrill, Malcolm, Finnish Architecture and the Modernist Tradition, London: Taylor Francis, 1995 Ray, Nicholas, Alvar Aalto, London: Yale University Press. 2005 Ryan, Zoe, Open: New Designs for Public Space, New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2004 www.sandellsandberg.se accessed November 22, 2011 http://www.spatialagency.net/ accessed November 21, 2011 Tempel, Egon, New Finnish Architecture, New York, Washington: Frederick A. Praeger, 1968 http://www.treehugger.com accessed November 22, 2011 Trencher, Michael, The Alvar Aalto Guide, New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1996 Unwin, Simon, Analysing Architecture Venturi, Robert, Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture New York: Museum of Modern Art Press, 1966 Wolschke-Bulmahn, Joachim, Places of Commemoration, Washington: Dumbarton Oaks, 2001 [ 1 ]. McLennan, Jason, The Philosophy of Sustainable Design, New York: Ecotone Publishing, 2004, p.5 [ 2 ]. www.sandellsandberg.se accessed November 22, 2011 [ 3 ]. Eliot, T. S., â€Å"Dante.† in Selected Essays New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1950, pp. 199-237 [ 4 ]. Unwin, Simon, Analysing Architecture, p.255 [ 5 ]. Ibid. p. 256 [ 6 ]. Curtis, William J.R, Modern Architecture Since 1900, London: Phaidon, 1996, p. 113 [ 7 ]. Wolschke-Bulmahn, Joachim, Places of Commemoration, Washington: Dumbarton Oaks, 2001, p.1016 [ 8 ]. Venturi, Robert, Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture New York: Museum of Modern Art Press, 1966, p.16 [ 9 ]. Johansson, pp. 59-60 [ 10 ]. http://www.blackwoodgallery.ca accessed November 11, 2011 [ 11 ]. Anderson, Jane, Architectural Design, London: Thames Hudson Press, 2011, p. 129 [ 12 ]. Ryan, Zoà «, Open: New Designs for Public Space, New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2004, p. 28 [ 13 ]. Ibid. p. 29 [ 14 ]. ‘Craig Dykers Interview’ GRITtv on youtube.com, 12 November, 2011 [ 15 ]. Eliel Saarinen, Time Magazine July 2, 1956 [ 16 ]. Trencher, Michael, The Alvar Aalto Guide, New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1996, p.34 [ 17 ]. Quantrill, Malcolm, Finnish Architecture and the Modernist Tradition, London: Taylor Francis, 1995, p. 122 [ 18 ]. Tempel, Egon, New Finnish Architecture, New York, Washington: Frederick A. Praeger, 1968, p148 [ 19 ]. http://www.architectural-review.com accessed November 22, 2011 [ 20 ]. http://www.graftonarchitects.ie accessed October 25, 2011 [ 21 ]. Middleton, Haydn, Frank Lloyd Wright, New York: Heinemann, 2001 [ 22 ]. Brooks, Bruce, Frank Lloyd Wright, 1867-1959: Building for Democracy, Hong Kong: Taschen, 2006 p. 12 [ 23 ]. Ibid. p.

Nursing Care Centers For Older People

Nursing Care Centers For Older People The policy of health and social care is eloquent based on the care and demands of the older people. Older people as well as service providers are affected due to the continuing changes in health provision and pressures for cost containment. Many a time, older people have found themselves means-tested for services that have been provided free of cost. Arrangements from nursing care homes limit the money available all over the world, use of a formula that interprets low, medium and high need. A little contribution to the cost of care is paid. According to an international research, the principles of these kinds of agencies cover assessment, for example, the single assessment process (SAP) and the national service framework. However, the approach of any multi-national agency should expose, in both its structure and process, good and latest nursing practice. Now it is a well-known fact that nursing assessment for older people is important. An expert nursing care and care homes for older people plays an important role in the care and comfort of older people. Health and social care needs have been inter-related by the people who need continuing care. Nursing care in care homes has been long argued that distinctions between the two are unworkable. Thus, an interview was conducted which help older could people to communicate and balance their health needs with their chosen lifestyle. Clinical judgment is used by the Care Home staffs to take care of older people and enable them to , improve, maintain, recover and to cope up with their problems and to achieve a better quality of life. Older people make up a large and increasing percentage of the current population. As people grow older, with the rate of increasing their ages, they are increasingly at risk of so many health problems many injuries also. Falling down is the first indication of an undetected illness. Major preventions should be taken for these kinds of problems as they create considerable mortality, morbidity and suffering for older people and their families, and incur social costs due to hospital and nursing home admissions. Targeted strategies should be made which aim at behavioral change and risk modification for those living in the community appear to be most promising. Research methods Online research data from different web sites, different articles, and theoretical studies from different books. The methodology which had been used was collecting data from both primary and secondary sources. Primary sources were the personal interaction with the experts and secondary was the information collected from websites. Qualitative interviews were used to explore views on maintaining dignity of 18 residents of nursing homes. A qualitative descriptive approach was used. The analysis was both deductive (arising from the dignity model) and inductive (arising from participants views). LITERATURE REVIEW AND FINDINGS Today most of the older people living in nursing homes are losing their life there itself. Model based on empirical, is of dignity which has been developed and which forms the basis of a brief psychotherapy to help in promoting dignity and reduce distress at the end of life of older people. The main objective of this study is to explore the generalisability of the dignity model to help older people in nursing homes. As a result of this study, the main categories and features of the dignity model were broadly and intuitively supported on various issues like illness-related problems, social aspects of the illness experience and dignity protecting repertoire. However, some of the sub themes which were related to death were not supported and two new themes came out. Some of the residents found their symptoms and loss of their function were due to old age rather than illness. Although residents did not emerge to experience distress due to thoughts of impending death, rather they were dist ressed by the multiple losses they had experienced.   These finding helps in adding to our understanding of the concerns of older people in care homes on maintaining dignity and suggest that dignity therapy may boost up their sense of dignity. This is one of the major reasons of choosing this topic related to older people as in todays scenario, older people are loosing their existence. As per the findings we got to know that the majority of residents who are living in nursing homes die within 2 years from multiple kinds of medical pathologies. Generally they are heavily reliant on staff for their care, which can grind down their sense of dignity. Maintaining dignity are considered as the highest priority in health and social care strategy documents in most European countries and particular concerns have been raised about loss of dignity in care. Although there is a big deal about rhetoric around dignity, there is no agreed and prescribed definition of this. A brief review of the studies based on international researches exploring the co ncept of dignity from a nursing perspective have showed a wide range of definitions and understanding related to the construct; however, a most common and important theme was to respect a patient as a person. Two of the studies have explored the different views of people on dignity of older people in care homes. One of them found that not being a burden for others was important to residents, and their sense of dignity was threatened by illness and care needs, at the same time the other one described three main themes: The body which can not be recognized. Feebleness and dependence on others. Self inner strength and a sense of coherence. One of the approaches related to dignity-oriented care provision, which focuses directly and specifically on end of life, is Chochinovs dignity-conserving model. This model was developed from interviews which were conducted with patients with advanced cancer and other old age problems (average age was 75 years), focusing on the factors which supports and undermines their dignity. The particularly most important aspect of Chochinovs dignity model is that it has provided the framework for psychotherapy which helps in promoting a sense of dignity and reduces psychological and spiritual distress for older people who are reaching the end of their life.This study has shown promising results for people with advanced cancer and other diseases, along with their families. It is quite clear from different international researches that older people living in care homes are completely helpless vulnerable to having a fractured sense of dignity, which suggests that dignity therapy, may be of benefi t to them. Since the therapy is brief which usually takes only two sessions and can be delivered at the bedside by a trained health care professional, it may be feasible to offer this in a care home setting. However, the dignity model, and therefore dignity therapy, is based on the views of people who are residing in home care centers, most of whom were cared for in the community. It has been shown that less than 10% of residents of nursing homes die from diagnosed cancers and other old age distresses also. Whether or not the model is generalsable to people with no these kinds of problems or to those living in other settings such as care homes, is not known. The aim of this study is to explore and understand the generalisability of Chochinovs dignity model to older people cared for in nursing homes. In recent years there has been a considerable increase in the need for effective health care and them oral boosting for older patients. Our society is ageing day by day, and a large number of people are going into advanced old age.â‚ ¬Ã‚  Ã‚ Ã¢â‚¬ °dentification of treatable diseases before it stats its affect in older people, promises reduction in premature mortality and morbidity in old age. Most of the elderly and frail people are receiving long term care in the community and there are a number of home care centers for older people. There is a perception that some early intervention and rehabilitation services, currently which are being provided in hospitals and home care centers, might be provided in community settings. More effective health care centers are available for providing care managing chronic diseases, such as chronic lung disease, cerebrovascular and coronary heart disease, diabetes, depression, and degenerative conditions such as osteoporosis, dementia and Parkinsons disease. To be implemented for all who might benefit these interventions need to be organized into structured programs. To be the most effective home care center for older people, and to respond to the needs of individuals, care planning should take integrated account of all of the health care needs of individuals particularly when these include both physical and mental health problems as well as the protection of their dignity. Effective health promotion and proactive health care provided by the health care centers for older people are extending the active life-span of older people, reducing the number of people who suffer disability, vulnerability and dependence. The National Service Framework for Older People has been published to ensure the delivery of higher quality services to older people all over the world. The NSF requires the identification of service champions for older people within Each home care organization which are running for older people. Older people should have access to a new range of intermediate care services at home or in designated care settings to promote their independence by providing advanced services from the nursing care services and local authorities to prevent unnecessary hospital admission and effective rehabilitation services to enable early discharge from hospital and to prevent premature or unnecessary admission to long-term residential care. There should be a safe and effective care for older people in enhanced care settings in the community and nursing care centers which require co-ordinated and competent care by a skilled workforce of healthcare professionals, working efficiently together. There should be a proper assessment and rehabilitation in community settings nursing care centers for older people. At the same time there should be a rapid response for acutely ill older people and also a medical support should be provided by Hospital at Home schemes. Following services should be provided to older people: Respite services: Services like podiatry, occupational therapy, hairdressing, personal care, social support, shopping assistance, small group programs, carer support and domestic assistance for self funded retirees and younger people living with a disability and overnight community respite cottage. Service like Family Support Service for families who have children with disabilities arising from a combination of physical, intellectual and sensory impairment with or without complication health issues (0-16 years). Other Services like Domestic Assistance, Personal Care, Social Support and also Other Food Services, Assessment, Case Management, Home Maintenance, Goods/Equipment Provision and Transport and a centre-based day care, social support and other Services like transport should be provided. Nursing services: Should provide nursing care and other services like personal care, allied health care, respite care, social support, domestic assistance, assessment, case management, and personal care, domestic assistance, in home respite, social support, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, volunteers chaplaincy. Nursing care; they also provide centre-based day care, in-home respite care, allied health care, other food services, domestic assistance, social support, information and advocacy, counselling/support, language assistance. etc. Meals on wheels: This service used to deliver meals to the older people. Home care services: Should provide personal care night time mobile attendant care service for people with physical disabilities who require personal care assistance throughout the night. Domestic assistance for younger disability; Should also provide centre-based day care, respite care, podiatrist, hairdresser, transport, home maintenance, minor modification, Home Assist Secure, social support, extended programs, mental health program, younger disability programs, carer support, volunteer coordination. Other services: Should provide other services like, Centre based and in-home respite, podiatry, occupational therapy, hairdressing, personal care, social support, shopping assistance, small group programs, carer support and domestic assistance for self funded retirees and younger people living with a disability, overnight community respite cottage and Veterans Home Care. Community health centers: Should provide domestic assistance, social support, allied health care, nursing care, personal care, assessment, health promotion, indigenous health. Allied health care services: Services should be Centre based and in-home respite, hairdressing, social support, shopping assistance, small group programs and domestic assistance for self funded retirees and younger people living with a disability, personal care etc. Following measures should be taken by Nursing care homes for older people: In order to help the older people from poverty, isolation and neglect, following actions should be taken: Make older people enjoy a better life by providing life-enhancing services and vital support. Keep developing products that are specifically designed for older people and which are helpful in their day to day life. Provide advice and information through their help lines, publications and online at all times. Fund pioneering research into all aspects of getting older. Join forces that will ensure more of their funds go where theyre needed. In order to improve the current situation of the place, the agency needs a huge amount of money. So it should work on the following areas to raise funds for the development: Donations The agency should always look for donations and gifts which are always proved as the greatest source of income. Legacies The average value of new legacies has been increased over the years. British Journal of Social Work 2009 39(4); doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcp024 Events Events and sponsorship are the most valuable sources of income. Money is raised through an exciting variety of events including dances, local walks and runs, overseas treks and cycle challenges. Chris tingle All members of the agency should come together and help in raising over a million pounds to support their work with disadvantaged older people. Carol singing The members of agency should use their voice to raise money for the welfare of the older people. They can either sing door-to-door, out in their community or plan a special carol service. Membership and sponsorship schemes: Many voluntary organisations operate membership schemes. These often offer something to us in return access to historic buildings, nature reserves, galleries, or magazines and the chance to attend events. More and more organisations now offer the opportunity for supporters to sponsor a beneficiary or a project. These schemes bring us closer to the work we are supporting so we can get a real picture of what sort of difference our money is making. Schemes that seem identical on the surface can be very different in detail they are all valuable as far as the charity is concerned but may offer different experiences to us as a donor and we need to know what to expect. In oder to motivate the memebers of the nursing care homes, the managers should use the following ways: By rewarding the team members Always implimenting new ideas Flexible benefits By giving responsibilities and recognitions as well In order to get more and more amenities for the older people, the nursing homes and communities for older people along with the other members of the agencies should work on the following principles: Their vision should see a world in which older people flourish. Their mission should to improve the lives of older people. They should make a real difference to the lives of older people. They can do it by combining the unique strengths, skills and experience of the great charity organizations and sponsors. They should create one united organization that will be stronger and more influential than ever before. They should develop excellent and sustainable services that enhance older peoples lives. They should deliver transformational and sustainable change through their research, policy and influencing. They should always provide definitive products and services tailored specifically for older people but available to all. They should maximize their reach through their retail estate and quality training services. They should create a single, powerful compelling brand by 2010. They should try to become a world renowned organization, reaching out to enhance the lives of older people globally. They should create an effective partnership with their national and regional networks. Agencies for older people should implement the following strategies: There should be a strategy which the agencies should implement, strategy and action plan following consultation on a broad range of seniors issues including health, transport, workforce participation and housing. The main aim this strategy should be to ensure seniors feel safe, supported and have access to appropriate services. To achieve this, the agencies should be keen to explore ideas for working in partnership across government as well as with business and the community. The Government is developing a whole-of-government loom for the way they support seniors into the future. The strategy will definitely identify priority areas for action with an emphasis on making positive changes for seniors who are vulnerable, disadvantaged or socially isolated. Journal of Aging Social Policy, Volume 21, Issue 1 January 2009 The socially isolated older people should be provided the following amenities: Basically, the meaning of social isolation is a low level of interaction with others combined with the experience of loneliness. It is a serious issue for seniors because of the unfavorable impact it can have on health and wellbeing of the older people. Although the majority of older people are not socially isolated, the number of people at risk of social isolation is expected to increase with the ageing of the population. The older people living in nursing care homes are also socially isolated. The older people who are residing in these kinds of agencies are either retired, physically disabled and ill health or loss of a partner and loss of transport. It should always be given importance that older people have the opportunity to be socially connected and, if they wish, to participate in community life. There is a project called The Cross-Government Project which is working to reduce Social Isolation of Older People and was established in 2003 to identify and develop innovative responses to reduce the social isolation of seniors. The project has identified many key findings that can inform program design, service delivery and policy development. A number of reports from various stages of the project have been published. The project also developed best practice guidelines to assist service providers, government agencies and community groups in designing and implementing projects to reduce social isolation of seniors. The British journal of social work Following improvements should be made in nursing care homes for older people: In order to improve the condition of Nursing care homes and communities for older people, the following services should be provided: Rents of the agencies should be decreased. The place should always be kept clean and hygienic. To keep the place clean and hygienic there should be a well managed housekeeping department. As we know that the success any organization is totally dependent upon the employees of the organization. If the employees are getting their job satisfaction then only they give their 100% to the organization. So, If the emplyees of the agency are not satisfied with their salary, then they should be paid competitively. So the salaries should be competitive (In comparison to other organizations). Hence, agency should always do Salary survey, to settle this grievance of the Employees. Employees nature of the job should be challenging at each and every stage but not so difficult that it appears impossible. It should not be boring, hence, set challenging goals for the employees of the agency. Upward/Downward flow of communication should always be ensured. Management of the agency should be highly effective. All the employees of the agency should feel the sense of belongingness with the kind of work they do. Managers of the agency should always play the role of counselors and mentors in the Organization. At all times, the agency should identify the need of the Employees as well of the older people and should decide the motivation strategy. The way of reaching these agencies should always be kept convenient. If the social work agencies are facing difficulties in reaching the park, then the government should also provide transportation to them. The government can not afford to loose these social work agencies at the cost of bad transportation as these agencies play a vital role in uplifting the welfare of the older people. The first and the most key principle of good practice is to be aware of the presence of older people in an emergency and take active steps to locate and identify them. It is an essential step that relief interventions are developing to make consultation with the target community. To perform this activity, first it is necessary to locate, meet and assess the needs of older people through direct observation and discussion and can also be done by directly working with them to identify and address both their immediate needs and their vision for recovery. There should be some steps to achieve these goals. First that includes locating older people, checking their records in service facilities to find out if the expected numbers of older people have attended and, if not, investigate why they are not attending. There should be an outreach approach into assessments, which can include staff, volunteers and other older people to locate vulnerable older people in particular. Mutual support networks of older people can also be used to gather information on the whole community of older people and also the civic, religious and other community leaders can be enqui red because getting on track of older people is the foremost important task in order to make developments for them. Group meetings should be organized by using participatory rapid appraisal (PRA) techniques to allow older people to identify, prioritize and begin to address their problems and explore their capacities. It should be ensured that older people are represented on relevant decision-making and advisory bodies such as disaster preparedness committees, emergency co-ordination committees, nursing care homes and special issue groups. Older people all over the world have begun to control their own lives and influence decisions in their own communities. Basic training should be provided to older peoples representatives and other home care centers to help them to identify the most vulnerable members in a community. Several basic needs have been identified for older people. If there homes have been destroyed, they need building materials and labor to help rebuild shelters. To cook food, they need help for collecting fuel and other ways to share cooking arrangements with neighbors or other individuals. Clothing, fooding and shelter are among the basic items required for older people. Nursing care homes should also provide some work to older people; agencies should address the basic needs and should therefore take account of the some needful factors. Many older people are not automatically given shelter by their adult children and they need and find shelter for themselves. Nursing care homes are aiming at grouping older people together with people, whom they do not know (for example, to make up the numbers required to qualify for shelter or for allocation of supplies such as utensils, plastic sheeting and blankets) can lead to problems of exclusion and abuse as the larger group rejects or resents the presence of the older person. There are situations where basic shelter facilities provided by agencies working for older people leave older people sleeping on cold, hard, or damp surfaces may mean that chronic but manageable joint problems become acute and severely debilitating. But there are solutions to overcome theses problems. Nursing care homes are working on that. They are providing better services to older people. Nursing centers are providing proper fooding system to them. They have simple age-related clinics to deal with issues such as joint pain and other ailments associated with ageing are especially relevant where displaced people are sleeping in the open or on hard, cold or damp surfaces. These clinics are helping in reducing pressure on limited resources by treating groups of older people together, and also they are limit revolving door patterns of repeated patient visits to regular clinics. They make ensured that drugs are available to treat any kind of diseases suffering by older people. Several psychosocial programs are developing that involve and support older people in all conditions. In situations of displacement this may mean dealing with issues such as the fear of death and burial in a foreign place, as well misery for losses already sustained. These nursing care homes are also providing proper food that is digestible by older people for example: maize flour rather than whole grain maize etc.), and that takes account of digestive disorders and a common lack of teeth. They provide food which is familiar and culturally acceptable. They also provide Lobby for supplementary feeding systems to include severely malnourished older people. They also ensure that food for work programs do not exclude older people from food provision and older people have the resources (such as fuel, water and utensils) to cook their food rations if they are not taking from the nursing care home. If the older people are living alone or in pairs, it is important that the utensils available to them are manageable and enough for them. Older people should be linked with their families, only if the family as well the older people are ready to keep the relationship. These agencies are understanding and taking care of the particular risk factors and issues affecting the nutritional status older people. Generally, older people try to hide their sorrow and bad experiences, they stay calm and patient, they try to gather together in groups to support each other and try to share their problems. Older people always want to build, not to destroy. Journal of Aging Social Policy, Volume 21, Issue 1 January 2009 CONCLUSION Nursing care homes for older peole and agencies working for older people teke care of the their interestd and also some of them rely on fundraising income to achieve their aims. The fundraisers make sure the these kinds of organizations achieve maximum impact in their fundraising activities, drawing on the strength of organizations brand to encourage supporters to make whatever contribution they can to their work.The agency is working for the welfare of socially isolated and disadvantaged older people and making efforts to overcome all the obstacles coming in their way to provide the best facility to the older people.For the disadvantaged older people, Christmas was never the same without their familybut the places like Caravan Park of Queensland gave them somewhere to stay and arranged counseling for them à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..things are better nowthey are looking forward to Christmas. Most of the elderly people are living alone. From the findings we came to know that there are 1.5 million people over 70 in the Netherlands, of whom a third are living alone. Usually older people in nursing care home have lost their partner. The largest majority of the older population still surviving and staying on their own. Half of the people over 70 still live with a partner. We can say that one in three lives alone. Only less than 10% live in an old age or nursing home. Many older people are only admitted to a home when they are very old other wise they go for nursing care homes and agencies which are working for older people. Only 3% of people in their seventies live in an old age or nursing home. Among people in their eighties the showed percentage is still higher, but the people living in homes are a minority (17%). It is only when people reach their nineties that half of them live in a home. More older people still have their partner It has been forecasted that in the next twenty years, these nursing homes are going to get older people as they are providing the best amenities to them in terms of food, shelter and cloth. The number of older people who are living on their own is expected to decrease. Some 47% of the people over seventy still have their partner and both of them residing in nursing care centers only. It is expected to become 53% in 2020. The average life expectancy will increase, especially among men. One of the causes for the increase in the number of elderly single people living on their own is that a smaller percentage will be admitted to old age and nursing homes. Between 1995 and 2000 the population over 70 increased by nearly 7%. Government policy of Dutch advocates that older people should go for such kinds of nursing home care centers and agencies working for them. The main aim of the policy is that people only get institutionalized when they can no longer live in their own environment and not with the help of organized home care. Statistics of Netherlands expects a increase in the percentage of older people admitted into care facilities. While the population over 70 will increase by 50% in the next 20 years, the number of people admitted to a home is expected to increase by 20%. Care in the home environment will be increasingly replaced institutionalized care. Moreover, there will be a big development in forms in between living totally on ones own and living in a home: for instance living semi-independently in an apartment complex geared to providing care on demand. REFERENCE AND BIBLIOGRAPHY Text referencing: News paper articles: Electronic sources: Websites Publications available from websites British Journal of Social Work 2009 39(4); doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcp024 The British journal of social work Journal of Aging Social Policy, Volume 21, Issue