Some of my best friends are in their 90s. Some people may think this is crazy since I am a 20-year-old woman. Why would a young lady be hanging out with the elderly folk? I can tell you with sincere honesty that the elderly are one of the most insightful and wisdom-filled group of people that you will ever encounter.
I first started befriending the elderly back in 2012 when I became a dietary server in my town’s assisting living facility. At first, remembering everyone’s drink and meal orders and giving it to the right “Mary” was the focus of my job. As I became more familiar with the people and meal routines, I focused more on developing relationships with the residents. Every day I worked, Arthur would have a new joke for me or Abbie would have a new story for me. It got to the point that once dinner was served, dishes were done and put away, and the kitchen was cleaned, I would clock out and then stay for a couple of hours just talking to the residents.
Befriending the elderly will teach you many things about life. The residents I have taken care of, whether it be when I was working in the kitchen or switched over to the nursing department, have all lived quite eventful lives. Many have held interesting jobs including business owners, nurses, factory managers, doctors and college professors. They have served in the military, raised children and taken care of their spouses and other family members. They have the wisdom of the ages because they have lived through it all. They didn’t just read about World War II or the Great Depression in history books - they lived through it. They experienced relocation and witnessed family and friends being sent to concentration camps. If you want to know what the “olden” days were like, spend a day in the sun talking with the elderly. They will be able to tell you more than you think.
More recently, I have befriended a 90-year-old gentleman named Gene. It is hard to keep in contact with him when I go back to school to another state. However, we keep in touch through texting, calling and writing letters to each other. I visit him when I am home and we make the most of our time together. I have learned so much from him and he always motivates me to do better in school and to stick with things. He always asks, “How are you doing?” or “How’s your running going?” We may be in different generations, but some topics of conversation are universal and do not solely belong to on age group. We can discuss anything from politics to religion to daily gossip of the day. My favorite is when we work on crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles together (he is currently working on a 1500 piece puzzle). He is always trying to keep his mind sharp by exercising it. Many times he has taught me how to play "Pinochle." How many of your friends know how to play that timeless classic?
Many people my age think that the elderly cannot always understand what you’re saying or have a hard time hearing and seeing. While this may be true, the elderly see and hear more than you think and just because they don’t directly say it, more times than not, they know what’s going on.
So next time you’re at Christmas dinner with your grandparents, be sure to spend some time with them and learn their stories. You will truly benefit from befriending the elderly and will enjoy the precious time you get to spend with them. I will never forget and will always keep the last letter I got from one of my best friends at the nursing home. I sent him an Easter card with masses, telling him I would come see him during my Easter break. He sent me a funny thank you note back, telling me his usual words of comfort such as, “Hang in there. This too shall pass.” He passed away a couple of days later and I didn’t even make it to see him. However, I got to speak at his funeral and I have never felt so honored in all my life. He was such a great guy and will forever be in my heart.
If you take away anything from this passage, please never forget that the elderly make excellent friends and can offer you pure happiness!
