Don't Ignore The Elderly Just Because of A Physical Ailment

Part of me wants to coerce the woman who is activities director at the senior center my parents attend to resign so I can take over. I know I would do a much better job than she does.

IMHO, She should plan at least one trip a month and it should be accessible for people with mobility issues. Another issue I have is that many of the trips cost a lot of money and not all the seniors down here are as well fixed financially as my folks are. The center owns two commuter vans. Even with the high cost of fuel, surely there is a way to book a trip that is under $30 a person and includes a box lunch.

My dad is 80 and has Parkinson's Disease. In the last 18 months he has had to stop driving and walking is becoming increasingly difficult. I have been on some of the senior centers trips and I know he isn't the only one that needs a cane and sometimes a rollator to get around. I've seen some that use a wheelchair or walker as well.

Just because a persons legs don't work, doesn't mean their minds don't. My daddy's mind is still pretty darn sharp. He watches the news every day and is able to discuss a number of timely subjects; as well as the usual guy stuff like sports, cars, and the weather. He reads the Sunday paper cover to cover and he knows his bible too.

He never says anything about it, but I know it hurts my dad when sales people ignore him and talk to either me or mom, as if he weren't even there. For chrissakes he's a 6'2" 170 lb. black man! How the heck can you ignore his presence?!?

For instance today we had to get his car serviced. When the service manager had the bill ready my dad handed her his charge card. She gave me the bill to sign and a pen. I looked at her as if she were nuts and slid the bill and pen over to dad. She actually picked up the pen and handed it back to me! Saying I could sign it. I took the pen and gave it to my father and told her it's his credit card, my name is not on the account. She seemed annoyed because she could see that he moves slow. But he still moves! Good Lord, the more I think about it the more angry I get. I think I need to go back and give her one of my dressing downs, Julia Sugarbaker style. Given the fact we came in for an oil change and left four hours and $600* later. She's lucky neither of us blessed her out or passed out from hunger.

In closing, please remember that senior citizens are people too and they deserve to be treated with respect and courtesy. Just because their bodies are failing doesn't mean that their minds are.


* The $600 bill was because we ended up having to get 4 new tires and an alignment. I saw the tires and was shocked to see the front two had worn clear through to the steel in the steel belted radials; but only on the interior treads. The wear was identical on both front tires which I thought a bit odd but apparently thats common.