Old age homes are
prisons for the
mind and
body, a place where people deemed no longer "useful" to
society are sent when they can't take care of themselves. I spent some time
volunteering for one of these establishments, and I made some
sobering observations.
Desperation for activity and excitement has left many of these throw-aways as empty shells just waiting for their turn to
die. Sad as it may be, these people crave simple activities such as
bingo and yearn for the
patronizing attention they are given by un-sympathetic and secretly repulsed
nurses and
caretakers. Some
inmates were excited that a new face had come to validate their
existence, while others were resentful of my
youth.
Senility and decrepit bodies harbor a wealth of knowledge and childlike personalities begging for another chance at life. Eyes that have witnessed ages gone past are now blinded by failing bodies, and each one of these entities is a sinkhole of despair, as almost everyone they have ever known is dead, dying, or has forgotten about them. The old age home truly shows just how little the majority of us care about and respect past generations, and for me it is a truly terrifying prospect that I may end up there one day as well.