My grandmother was one of 22 children. Her mother had several multiple births. 14 lived to be adults. When my grandmother lost her last sister, after all the other siblings had passed, she basically sat around waiting to die. For THREE YEARS! But she finally worked thru the idea that just because all her 13 brothers and sisters had died, that actually did not mean she was going to die.
I've seen how much it helps when there's at least one regular thing in the week — a card game, a neighbor dropping by, even a daily call. It’s not about fixing the grief, just softening the quiet a bit.
I was my mother‘s caregiver for several years and I watched that exact same thing happen. It was one loss after another. She lived to be 90 so you can imagine friends relatives church friends all lost. I was her only comfort when she lost her brother two weeks before she got out of rehab Very sad. I live in a senior high-rise and I see the same lonely patterns playing out what makes it worse is that so many of us are segregated from the general population. Intergenerational neighborhoods are a rare commodity in this country we don’t take care of our neighbors, huge loss of community that started back in the 50s with suburbia.
You’re so right about seniors being segregated—it’s like society quietly pushed them aside instead of keeping them woven into everyday life. We’ve lost something really important in how we live together, and it’s sad that this has become normal. What you said really hits home. Thank you for commenting!
Read the book called ageism unmasked by Tracy Gendron in it she explains ageism, ableism the whole retirement community myth like Palm Springs in Florida the inner generational neighborhoods, the lost knowledge through segregation
My grandmother was one of 22 children. Her mother had several multiple births. 14 lived to be adults. When my grandmother lost her last sister, after all the other siblings had passed, she basically sat around waiting to die. For THREE YEARS! But she finally worked thru the idea that just because all her 13 brothers and sisters had died, that actually did not mean she was going to die.
She got a job (at 72) and lived 13 more years!
This was so very comforting and reassuring. Thank you.
I've seen how much it helps when there's at least one regular thing in the week — a card game, a neighbor dropping by, even a daily call. It’s not about fixing the grief, just softening the quiet a bit.
What a great article with excellent ideas. You are sure to make a difference in some readers lives. Too true about losing family and friends.
What a wonderful group of kids stories. Thank you to everyone.
I was my mother‘s caregiver for several years and I watched that exact same thing happen. It was one loss after another. She lived to be 90 so you can imagine friends relatives church friends all lost. I was her only comfort when she lost her brother two weeks before she got out of rehab Very sad. I live in a senior high-rise and I see the same lonely patterns playing out what makes it worse is that so many of us are segregated from the general population. Intergenerational neighborhoods are a rare commodity in this country we don’t take care of our neighbors, huge loss of community that started back in the 50s with suburbia.
You’re so right about seniors being segregated—it’s like society quietly pushed them aside instead of keeping them woven into everyday life. We’ve lost something really important in how we live together, and it’s sad that this has become normal. What you said really hits home. Thank you for commenting!
Read the book called ageism unmasked by Tracy Gendron in it she explains ageism, ableism the whole retirement community myth like Palm Springs in Florida the inner generational neighborhoods, the lost knowledge through segregation
Thank you for the recommendation!
I drink my coffee every morning and live another day. I’m 75.
75 and still going strong—love that. Stay healthy and keep enjoying that coffee!
Volunteering
Love this Angela!