Yesterday, My dog and I went to visit a friend of mine who is 95 years old and lives in an independent living situation. She is a little forgetful, so when ever we show up, it makes her day. Hugs and kisses abound. Yesterday, she was reminded that she was going to be moving to an assisted living facility very soon. She grabbed my hand with a look of fright on her face and said she didn’t want to go. I told her Buddy and I would follow her wherever she went. She felt a little better but she still didn’t want to go. This has been her her home for about 10 years but she doesn’t really remember.
Then we went to visit another friend who is in her mid 80’s I imagine. She is doing well, we enjoyed our visit and she talked about what would happen to her when she got so old she couldn’t live by herself. She didn’t want that to happen and hoped she died first. She does have a son who assured her that he would take care of her, but she doesn’t want to move in with them. She is doing everything she can to stay healthy.
Lastly, we visited my friend who is 91.5 years of age and miserable. She wants to go home but doesn’t know where home is. She is in an Assisted Living Facility that is marginal and she is lonely. I walked into her room and she was sitting on her walker staring into space. She does not have Altzheimer’s or Dementia, she is just old and feels like no one cares for her.
These women are not even part of the thousands of baby boomers coming up the pike. Facing the end of ones life is complicated but everyone wants to be part of something and to feel loved.
