Recently I had the chance to visit my family on my mother’s side down in Georgia for my cousin’s wedding. More so, my 86-year-old grandmother Inis also attended. For the past year or so she has lived in an assisted living home in Florida and has been diagnosed with dementia.
After helping drive my grandma back to her “home” after the wedding, my mom told me about how Inis’s doctor will come and do in-house visits of the patients, therefore alleviating the pain in the ass it is to move a 86 year old lady who can barely walk. (This kind of thing can be viewed as sad, but my grandma lived a good life and reminds me of one of those cartoon characters that sits on the porch out in the mountains, spitting some chew, and drinking her whiskey.)
So I come to learn that even though the doctor makes the house call (good thing), he doesn’t have the personal skills to talk to the patients and show that little bit of extra care (bad thing). When bringing back my grandma, the doctor was there and didn’t acknowledge that Inis was back or say hi to my mom, who is over at the home all the time talking to him about the meds.
So as I got to sit by the pool talking with my mom here in St. Pete Beach, Florida, she was telling me about the volunteers over at the Palms of Pasadena Hospital in her neck of the woods. Here are individuals that have retired from work and yet still donate their time to come into the hospital and help out any way they can with elderly care. Making sure those that come in to the waiting room are greeted with a friendly smile and something cold to drink and something small to eat. I began to see the polarity and importance of health “care”.
It’s so vital, especially for those that are pushing their later years, to be looked after with care and affection. To the elderly (and anyone for that matter), it means the world to be greeted by a friendly smile and joyful conversation as they come in for a check-up or procedure. You feel loved instead of feeling like just another number. It’s that human connection…knowing that there is someone right here, right now (great song) for you to take comfort in.
As Aaron Hurst said, the healthcare/homecare industry is going to be booming (as if it already isn’t) as all the baby-boomers are getting older and will need assistance. Those that have made it so far in life deserve the right to a dignified sending off. Little things like volunteering at your local hospital or visiting the elderly at an assisted living home will only help. Sometimes all they want is someone to talk to.
Just tonight, I had the opportunity to listen to my grandma’s friend Al who also lives in the assisted living home. My mom and I went over to have dinner with my grandma and her friend Al, who kinda looks after my grandma. It was fascinating listening to the man speak for two hours about his life of living in NYC and then traveling the world for business. He had spent his entire life with the same company, something that rarely happens today, and lived in Cuba, all over Latin America, and the Philippines. I listened intently knowing that he doesn’t get the chance to really talk to anyone anymore and I hoped me sitting there made his day.
Some say these acts of kindness can’t be taught. I think otherwise. When you see someone do something good, you are so much more inclined to do a good deed as well. Why do we have to be so cold all the time? Kindness is an integral element to living a great life and the more we have of it in the world, the more of the world will be kind : )
A great way to give back is to help out Volunteers of America who focus on providing service to those most vulnerable. Or just find your local elderly home and stop by to play some cards with the old folks!
