A vow honored /dishonored

Many may not know this, but I have worked with the elderly since I was 16. My specialty is with Alzheimer. I have seen the most saddest things, and the most beautiful things with this disease. First I would like to say that, the hardest part about Alzheimer is the pain that the family goes through while slowly thier parents or spouses can not reconize them anymore. The hurt is unspeakable because most believe that if she or he truly loved them, they would remember. Of course this is not the case.

I have seen husbands come in and talk to their wives, without any recognition, thank you's or I love you's back.

I have seen wives come in and take care of their husbands, while the husband is calling her bad names, because he thinks this woman is a snoopy nurse.

I have seen wives, tear up, infront of me, because there once strong,intelligent husband, has become childlike, and is not acting like the leader she married.

It's a hard road to go down through. But I find it amazing how husbands and wives love thier spouses without any of the love in return. It seems like they remember who they really were, and choose to see them in this light. They know thier husband or wife would be grateful, They know that if it were them wearing their shoes, he or she would take care of them the exact way they are now. They honor the vow...through sickness and health.

But there is a sad part, I've seen some sad sights.
I've seen the elderly placed in facilites where the staff is underpaid, and sparse. I've seen Alzimer patients just walking around and around in a small square room with the tv on. I've seen bed sores, bruises, and have heard them crying in thier beds. No one comes to visit them. People treat them as if they are a pain in the neck. No love, no comfort, no loving touches. It so sad, and it just angers me to the core!

What about all those years of mothering, cleaning, loving, their children and spouses? All the Christmas presents, birthday cakes, and I love you's they said as their spouse or children walked out of the door each day? And what about the Father and husbands who went to work,each day, for years, providing food, comfort, love to their family??? I have seen the old cry..and held their hand as they did. I have held unto a mother who has alzheimers, while she cried her eyes out thinking her kids don't love her, because they never come by and talk to her. Even though she talked with her daughter 10 min ago.

As you can see, I have a heart for the elderly. I love them, I love thier stories and their wisdom. I think respect for the elderly has gone out of America. Because you usally don't see these things in other parts of the country. And what saddens me most is that... the best generation of the elderly are now dying out. Our elderly are going to be from the years of the 60's to 80's soon. And what kind of people were they? The good o'l days are going to be gone. The good old stories from the old are dying with them. Could you imagine hearing from elderly lips the stories from the great time they had at Woodstock? It just doesn't seem right.

Just sharing something on my heart.

Christina