Never Too Late to Shine

All too often those of us who work in elder care confront ageism and ageist attitudes. We hear people talk about “those people” when referring to older adults as if they are less than equal, less than competent, less than able to contribute.

A recent proposal by one of the United States Senators from Maine amplifies that point as well. Senator Angus King of Maine, who happens to be 82 years of age himself, proposed recently that anti-slip bath mats be mailed to all 70 million Medicare beneficiaries in the United States, that this action would improve the health and safety of America’s elders. What is the message in that? That older adults don’t have the ability to buy or use their own bathmats or even how to bathe safely?

We know better than that. We know that older adults are human beings with rights and privileges and preferences. They are people with bodies of knowledge and wisdom and that, regardless of their age or stage, ability or disability, they have much to contribute.  And we see that demonstrated every day in our elder care communities.

One shining example of that is the production of “Guys and Dolls” currently being performed by residents of the Jewish Home Family. Working with the Broadway Senior Division of Music Theatre International, we have been in rehearsals since January and show times began this week and continue into the first week of June.  Elders auditioned, were selected and have learned their lines and their music.  And, this week, in their first performance for an audience (and a full house at that), they finished to a standing ovation from the crowd.

Some of these performers live in the nursing home, some in assisted living. Some of them are well into their 90’s and others live with life limiting disabilities. But all of them earned their place on the stage and each of them was a star.

Aging is a normal and inevitable part of life. We know that. And yet, so many in our society want to turn their backs on the elderly, to diminish and denigrate them, to minimize their value as individuals and, in some cases, pretend they don’t exist.

For those of us who work with older adults, we know how much each of them has to offer. We know that these individuals have gifts and talents and purpose. And that each of them deserves to be applauded, each of them deserves the opportunity to shine.