I normally hate cliches. Since I dabble in the field of journalism, cliches often aggravate me as they are taboo when vying for limited space on a page. However, when thinking about the topic of which I am about to expound, the saying "age before beauty" came to mind but in an interesting way.
I don't think that we live according to that saying at all. In fact, I think we pay less attention to the elderly sector of society than we have in the past and that we have become terrified of getting old. I began to think about this after the loss of a dear Furman staffmember this past week.
Ms. Nena was an iconic elderly lady. Petite and endearing, she worked in our dining hall and swiped our meal cards upon entry. She spent the past 25 years of her life sitting on her stool with her crochet sweaters, greeting college students and absorbing their youth and vibrance.
Ms. Nena was loved by many Furman students and there was something comforting about seeing this grandmother-esque figure everyday when acclimating for the first time to life without the support system of a family.
But, as I thought more about what a lovely lady she was, I realized that I knew very little about her life. Did she work so long because she loved it or because she had to? I hope that she did it because she loved being around young people who enjoyed spending time with her. However, I had a chilling fear that came to mind after the poverty simulation I did a few weeks ago.
In the simulation put on by United Ministries, I took on the role of an 85-year-old man with terrible arthritis. He could not afford his prescriptions and had no transportation of his own. He had to rely on public transportation and could barely afford to cover his expenses and buy groceries.
When I think about either of my grandparents in this situation, it is horrifying. I keep hearing in the news that the declining economy is causing our aging baby boomers to dip into funds saved for retirement to make ends meet. Many more people seem to be in jeopardy of falling into a situation similar to the one I encountered in the poverty simulation.
So, I asked Russell and Brock what agencies in Greenville are focused on caring for our senior citizens. There is a group in Greenville called Senior Action that is devoted to providing resources for our aging community but also to nurturing the mind and spirit. You should check out their website and, if perhaps you feel inspired by an experience similar to mine, volunteer there or someplace similar. Check them out at http://www.senioraction.org/.
Perhaps we should revert back to the old saying and place our senior citizens on a much higher pedestal, respecting them for their wisdom and honoring their lives by helping to take care of them when they face difficulties that prevent them from taking care of themselves.
I don't think that we live according to that saying at all. In fact, I think we pay less attention to the elderly sector of society than we have in the past and that we have become terrified of getting old. I began to think about this after the loss of a dear Furman staffmember this past week.
Ms. Nena was an iconic elderly lady. Petite and endearing, she worked in our dining hall and swiped our meal cards upon entry. She spent the past 25 years of her life sitting on her stool with her crochet sweaters, greeting college students and absorbing their youth and vibrance.
Ms. Nena was loved by many Furman students and there was something comforting about seeing this grandmother-esque figure everyday when acclimating for the first time to life without the support system of a family.
But, as I thought more about what a lovely lady she was, I realized that I knew very little about her life. Did she work so long because she loved it or because she had to? I hope that she did it because she loved being around young people who enjoyed spending time with her. However, I had a chilling fear that came to mind after the poverty simulation I did a few weeks ago.
In the simulation put on by United Ministries, I took on the role of an 85-year-old man with terrible arthritis. He could not afford his prescriptions and had no transportation of his own. He had to rely on public transportation and could barely afford to cover his expenses and buy groceries.
When I think about either of my grandparents in this situation, it is horrifying. I keep hearing in the news that the declining economy is causing our aging baby boomers to dip into funds saved for retirement to make ends meet. Many more people seem to be in jeopardy of falling into a situation similar to the one I encountered in the poverty simulation.
So, I asked Russell and Brock what agencies in Greenville are focused on caring for our senior citizens. There is a group in Greenville called Senior Action that is devoted to providing resources for our aging community but also to nurturing the mind and spirit. You should check out their website and, if perhaps you feel inspired by an experience similar to mine, volunteer there or someplace similar. Check them out at http://www.senioraction.org/.
Perhaps we should revert back to the old saying and place our senior citizens on a much higher pedestal, respecting them for their wisdom and honoring their lives by helping to take care of them when they face difficulties that prevent them from taking care of themselves.
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1 comment:
Thank you so much Kate for this insightful blog and I am so happy to see a young person as yourself has opened your heart to the plight of the elderly.
I am old enough to be a member of AARP and have read some stories by the elderly about how they are so poor they can no longer leave their residence to go out for a meal or a movie, or anything.
I realized that one of the things i want to do when i get relocated to Greenville is to help with the elderly...take someone, or two out for a meal or a movie or for a walk around downtown. And I would love to find others willing to do this as well, and maybe we could do it together.
Thank you again for your caring heart Kate.
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