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By Asma Ahmad
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‘The Forgotten Ummah’ draws response
I read last month’s feature article with sadness and with some familiarity. I am a registered nurse, and I have experience working with the elderly population. Your article is correct; we have an aging Muslim population but it’s not composed entirely of converts. I have seen my share of immigrant Muslims in nursing homes as well. Though it may go against what Muslims might believe about allowing our parents to age at home, many younger, non-religious people are utilizing public rest homes for respite and for good. The North American Muslim Nurses Association sees this as a good cause to take on. To get the stats first, and then of course to start to arrange to make visitation to these places where there are Muslim patients. Any Muslim can do this, though, all you have to do is go to your neighborhood nursing facilities and volunteer. It’s that simple. Whether or not there is a Muslim patient present, you can be a presence and a voice and face for the Muslim community that says we are part of the community in its entirety and we are not interested just when Muslims are involved. However, it can still be our primary goal to see to the welfare of Muslim patients who have no family or who have been neglected by non-religious family members. There is so much you can do without an organization or even a group.
Rabi’a Mirhadian, RN BSN PHN
Hercules, Calif. |
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