I noticed a very old woman struggling to push a cart from Publix. Two younger women were close behind trying to talk to her. She hadn’t checked out her few items, just put them in the cart and headed out. I figured the younger women knew her and were helping.
On the way out I noticed the older woman was sitting in a motorized shopping cart by the pharmacy, and the two younger women and a Publix employee talking to her. They were trying to find out who she was and where she lived. She looked utterly defeated, just kept shaking her head and mumbling “don’t know. Don’t know.”
There are several lessons here for all of us. Most importantly keep your eyes open for confused older people. There are more of them than ever, and Alzheimer’s along with strokes are becoming more common every day. Another very important thing to do is to be sure older people have some identification with the at all times. A bracelet or necklace with a name and phone number would be ideal.
How did the old Dear get to Publix? Drive? Heaven forbid. But she did get there somehow.
We can all hope this never happens to us or our loved ones, but you know it will, to someone. These older Americans have taken care of the rest of us for decades, and it is our turn to keep on the lookout for them. And if you think “why should I bother with someone I don’t even know?” the answer is because you are presumable human, and endowed with humanity. If that isn’t enough try this: You will feel better if you help someone. Go ahead. Be selfish. Lend a hand when needed. You never know if the next stroke will be yours, and as you fall you think “Please, somebody help me.” Payback time has just arrived.
Image: e-revista.com.pt/industria/b2b/files/2010/02/...
On the way out I noticed the older woman was sitting in a motorized shopping cart by the pharmacy, and the two younger women and a Publix employee talking to her. They were trying to find out who she was and where she lived. She looked utterly defeated, just kept shaking her head and mumbling “don’t know. Don’t know.”
There are several lessons here for all of us. Most importantly keep your eyes open for confused older people. There are more of them than ever, and Alzheimer’s along with strokes are becoming more common every day. Another very important thing to do is to be sure older people have some identification with the at all times. A bracelet or necklace with a name and phone number would be ideal.
How did the old Dear get to Publix? Drive? Heaven forbid. But she did get there somehow.
We can all hope this never happens to us or our loved ones, but you know it will, to someone. These older Americans have taken care of the rest of us for decades, and it is our turn to keep on the lookout for them. And if you think “why should I bother with someone I don’t even know?” the answer is because you are presumable human, and endowed with humanity. If that isn’t enough try this: You will feel better if you help someone. Go ahead. Be selfish. Lend a hand when needed. You never know if the next stroke will be yours, and as you fall you think “Please, somebody help me.” Payback time has just arrived.
Image: e-revista.com.pt/industria/b2b/files/2010/02/...
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