Being in a retirement community awakens one to the reality that life can be extended only so long. Our bodies do not have a lifetime warranty. We can apply to “body shops” for used parts, such as hearts, kidneys, and the like, but normally we have to medicate our bodies so they will last longer. Tests are ordered to hopefully define “culprits” of the aging process. Doctors, in unity with insurance companies, help drain the fiscal resources of their clients as they seek a magical remedy that will help extend the “body warranty.” Interestingly, some of the medications can even make the person sicker. There are older individuals who need new knees and hips, but the medical profession has a “Stop Age” position where no surgeries can be performed. Doesn’t one’s physical and mental condition account for anything? Just because one reaches eighty does that mean that they are to be put out to pasture!
Some of the people in my community are over eighty-five and are in better condition than some sixty-year-olds. There should be no restrictions due to treating people over a certain age. Older people realize their bodies have no guarantees, but life is more than their outer shell. What the geriatrics want is love and understanding. There are wonderful people who need encouragement in all aspects of their lives: physical, emotional, and spiritual. They need to know they are still appreciated. Instead of waiting for the undertaker or the “uppertaker,” they need to realize that they are appreciated, loved, and thanked for their contributions to society.
I am thankful for doctors, nurses, and organizations that understand the importance of helping those whose physical performances are waning. For Hospice, nursing homes, and community centers; for physical and occupational therapists, and all those who give of their time and energy to help people whose life’s journey is entering its final stages.
What I have noticed in the aging process is how much certain services cost. Once you start down the road of medical assistance, it leads to a financial crisis for the seniors. Bank accounts drain at an alarming rate. Insurance and pharmaceutical companies need to make money, but must it always be at the expense of those who are retired? Seniors have brought this country to where it is today. Would it be so egregious to give back to the patriarchs and matriarchs in the form of gratuities from the medical conglomerates?
Besides the physical challenges to the elderly, there are psychological needs. Neglect is a devastating reality for the aged. Loneliness is one of the most debilitating emotions that older people experience. Many do not realize what the sound of family voices means to those alone. It does not take a lot of effort to hold the ever-present phone and hit the buttons. As mothers and fathers have brought their children into the world, shouldn’t children be there for their parents as they prepare to leave this world?
One of the great realizations for our aging generation is the reality that if we have committed our lives to our Creator, through Jesus Christ, He will be with us as we make our transition.