i LOVE elderly people!! | Reality Daydream

For any of you that know me at all, you know I absolutely LOVE old people!! I haven’t ever been specifically interested in the healthcare industry, but this past February, I became a CNA just so I could work in a nursing home! I love my residents so much, and it gives me such a sense of accomplishment and purpose to know that I’m making a difference in their lives. I feel strongly that the elderly are a forgotten generation. Everyone loves children, or has a ‘heart’ for teenagers, but aren’t the ones that truly need to be impacted for Christ the ones that are going to be meeting Him soon?? Many of these people don’t even have family that comes to visit them in the nursing home. I love chatting with my residents when I have down time at work. I love encouraging them, and hearing their stories. I love showing them that I care.

“When an old lady died in the geriatric ward in a small hospital near Dundee, Scotland, it was wrongly assumed that she had nothing left of any value. But later, when the nurses were going through her meagre possessions, they found this poem:”

What do you see, nurses, what do you see?

What are you thinking when you’re looking at me?

A crabby old woman, not very wise,

Uncertain of habit, with far away eyes?

Who dribbles her food and makes no reply

When you say in a loud voice, “I do wish you’d try!”

Who seems not to notice the things that you do, and

Forever is losing a stocking or shoe…

Who, resisting or not, lets you do as you will,

With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill…

Is that what you’re thinking?

Is that what you see?

Then open your eyes nurse; you’re not looking at me.

I’ll tell you who I am as I sit here so still,

As I do at your bidding, as I eat at your will.

I’m a small child of ten… with a father and mother,

Brothers and sisters, who love one another.

A young girl of sixteen, with wings on her feet,

Dreaming that soon now a lover she’ll meet.

A bride soon at twenty~ my heart gives a leap,

Remembering the vows that I promised to keep.

At twenty-five now, I have young of my own,

Who need me to guide and secure a happy home.

A woman of thirty, my young growing so fast,

Bound to each other with ties that should last.

At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone,

But my man’s beside me to see I don’t mourn.

At fifty once more, babies play round my knee,

Again we know children, my loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead;

I look at the future and shudder with dread.

For my young are all rearing young of their own,

And I think of the years and the love that I’ve known.

I’m now an old woman, and nature is cruel;

‘Tis jest to make old age look like a fool.

The body, it crumbles, grace and vigor depart,

There is now a stone where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass, a young woman still dwells,

And now and again, my battered heart swells.

I remember the joys, I remember the pain,

And I’m loving and living life over again.

I think of the years… all too few, gone too fast,

And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.

So open your eyes, people, open and see,

Not a crabby old woman; look closer… see ME!

Comments

3

Floella Mccullough says

October 19, 2012 at 8:24 pm

The poem made me cry as well. =( The elderly may be constantly quiet and alone, but little do we know that a majority of them are still experiencing pain, as they are being ignored by their friends, and worse, by their loved ones. It’s great that you joined the CNA, my friend. I think you’re going to help a lot of our lovely elderly folks feel and live young again.

Floella Mccullough

4

Tee says

April 28, 2012 at 10:02 pm

Oh my God! This made me cry. It should be posted in every single nursing home/geriatric center in the country.

5

Myers Lumber says

August 12, 2010 at 2:22 pm

This comment has been removed by the author.

Related:

About Bethany Sy

Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply