Elderly Love

I have the honor of having the most wonderful job in the world. At least that's what I think. I spend my days taking care of those in need, mostly the elderly. So far my clients have been well into their 90's. One turning 100 in February. I never knew that I would be guided to this position in life. I never knew I would love it so much. Who would right? Here's what some of my days are filled with.

I help a man who had polio as a child, then lost his hip to an infection and hasn't walked in many years. He needs help with his bed sores, dressing and showering. He's 85 years old. I learned you can't be shy when your old. You have to bend over and allow some stranger to take care of your wounds. You have to allow someone to see you in your birthday suit. You have to allow this same stranger to wipe your bottom and remind you each day of your medicine. You depend on this individual to keep you going. You have to try and ignore the smells that come with ageing.

Some days I have clients who simply need to get out. They cant drive no more because they lost their eyesight to diseases. So you wait until you can have your driver to take you to the store, to Walgreens, and out to eat at McDonalds. What a special treat that is! How simple that is right? Not really that simple though if you work my job.

There are two of them, man and wife, happily married for 75 or so years. They walk slowly... so slowly, so carefully, so determined to carry on with life as if nothing has changed. You watch one, then the other to make sure they never fall. He wants to help his wife as well, cause the love of course is still there after all these years. You let them DO what they can, but only with close by supervision. They need help to see labels in stores and help counting money. Most people would be frustrated by this time when dealing with these situations.

Then there is the woman with brain cancer, at 97 years old. She is frail, cant get out of bed. Surgeries and chemo has taken its toll. You have to bath her in her bed, being ever so careful not to tear her skin. You have to be respectful of her privacy knowing full well you have to wash every inch of her in places she probably never thought she would have someone go. You cover her up as you wash each area. You talk, you distract. You listen to her say things unusual because the tumor makes her see people. She thinks someone is eating her food and she thinks she sees them in the reflection of the glass. You try to find humor with a caring heart. Its a difficult task.

In some of these cases you walk away with tears, at least I do. But I feel good knowing that I made a difference in someones life. I walk away with knowledge of their life; past, present and their wishes for the future. You sometimes have to hear things over and over again and pretend its new.

But you know, you learn from the elderly. You learn about the world, life, love and happiness. You learn about how life was simpler way back then. You learn that we all are the same in our journey. You learn that even the hardest individual wants to believe their is a God and Heaven. You learn that at 98 you want to go there... this place called Heaven. You are not shy to say, "I just need to leave now" and you know they mean they want to die.

How can I express how happy it makes me feel to be apart of this journey these clients have given me. With each one I have grown! Each one, is my Grandma, my Grandpa, my Friend. Not many people can say they love their job. But I do! And one day when I am 98, I hope someone loves me enough to be by my side and take care of me with that much love.