Even stars, when aged are vulnerable. This from Yahoo News:
MICKEY ROONEY has accused his stepson of verbally abusing him and meddling in his finances, according to the Press Association. The Hollywood actor’s lawyers say Rooney has become a “prisoner in his own home”. A Los Angeles judge has approved a restraining order against Mr Aber, requiring him to stay at last 100 yards away from the 90-year-old actor and his home. Court documents allege that Rooney’s stepson has prevented the actor from leaving the house, forced him to sign documents against his will and withheld food and medicine. The order also allows Rooney’s legal team to secure his financial assets and obtain control of his website and any personal documents. The Hollywood actor, who has received four ACADEMY AWARD nominations, said in a statement, “All I want to do is live a peaceful life, to regain my life and be happy. I pray to God each day to protect us, help us endure, and guide those other senior citizens who are also suffering”.
OK, now it’s not often that I get to give assent to a Hollywood scandal but this one I’m sure is 100% true. Rooney came to the WOR studios and seemed to be in an early stage of Alzheimer’s. He was far from lucid while on the air and we asked him to read a commercial and he did it for over 20 minutes. The host had no control over him. It was sad to see and I couldn’t tell if he was declining or in some kind of medicated high. He seemed agitated and after a few minutes in the control room with his sons, I could see why.
The whole time their father was essentially talking nonsense on the radio, they proceeded to make fun of him behind his back. After about five minutes I couldn’t take it anymore. I said to one of them, “Um, are you handling his affairs?” And when they said yes, I said, “I see. And do you realize that he’s making a fool of himself on the air? Because I know all the other publicists who come in here wouldn’t stand for that.”
No response. They were just happy to have him be their meal ticket–and it was obvious.
My own dad, just got the cast taken off his wrist and will have occupational therapy done on it for the next few weeks. He’s walking with the new prosthetic hip very well after his fall. It’s looking like he’ll be good as new soon.
But I thank God that my parents have been remarkably self-sufficient. Even though old and infirm now, they have been remarkably resilient. While it’s certainly a different situation, my parents have never made fools of themselves while their children sat idle. I can’t imagine anyone doing that.
So today, let us pray for the aged. Often the forgotten vulnerable in society, let us ask God to be their company when they are lonely, to be their strength when they are weak, to be their hope when all seems dark and to be justice when others try to take advantage of them.