Judy Schmidt
A Personal Journal Reflecting On Aging
June 8 | June 9

	Reflections of Judy Schmidt June 6: Not Really A Day Off June 7: Wilma the Ringleader June 8: Hard to Get the Younger Seniors Involved June 9: Asking for Help is OK June 10: Making Friends June 11: Saying Things We Don't Mean June 12: Negativity June 14: It's Nice to Make A Difference June 15: Working Conflicts June 17: Wish I Could be a Hero June 19: Getting Busy June 20: Time to Slow Down

June 8: Hard to Get the Younger Seniors Involved
Today was a very busy day. Everyone seems to be in a grumpy mood. I myself cannot understand it—the sun is shining. It could be worse—raining or even snowing.

The square dancers are coming to town. The senior center is serving meals all day tomorrow. I asked some of the seniors to help. Well, at first they wanted to help, but once they found out who would be helping, they were a little upset.

It seems that it is always the same group of seniors that work. The seniors who do help are getting older. The older seniors don't understand the younger seniors and how they can be so busy. Pretty soon the older seniors will not be able to help. It is frustrating because we can not seem to get the younger groups of seniors to come and help with fund-raisers. In a few years the older seniors will be either in the nursing homes or not able to come down to the center.

I understand that the younger seniors like to be doing things and that they are very busy. Most are snowbirds—stay for the summer and leave in the winter. The ones who I have talked to, both spouses have worked jobs, so they have the extra income. They can afford the things that most older seniors cannot. I guess if I was a younger senior and could afford to have a house down south and be a snowbird . . . well, let's just say I would be catching the first plane out of here once the snow flies.

But I am always thinking of ways to bring them in. How are they going to get the information they need if they don't come down and see what the Senior Center has to offer? My grandma always told me when I was young, "Try it, it is not going to kill ya." I think seniors should go by that, too. I don't really know exactly how to express my feelings about this. I guess my biggest worry is that the younger seniors will not come down to try our programs. They are missing out on so much.

June 9: Asking for Help is OK
I would have to say today was a great day, even though I had to get up about two hours earlier than I normally do. The square dancers came. But unfortunately, we did not have as many as we were hoping for. But all in all, everyone kept in high spirits except for one co-worker. She was feeling so upset that she could not sell more tickets for our meals. I know it is hard for people when they try their best and don't get anywhere. But really I feel they should not take these things personally. I know, I should talk. I take a lot of things to heart. I did sit down and talk to her and it made her feel much better.

After lunch, we all were out in the parking lot having a good time. I saw one of the volunteers working down at the center today come out of the Senior Center. I decided to go up and talk to him because I was a little concerned. I asked why he was there. He said he was going for a walk—his house was a block up the road. I said OK and then I proceeded to watch him after I went back to my volunteers. He seemed to stop a couple of times—almost looked like he was not sure where he was. I left the group and decided to walk him home. Three times we had to stop because he was not sure where he was going.

I just don't understand why his family does not help him more. He should have someone walking with him, as he is one who is still living alone in a apartment complex similar to one that I live in. He seems to have signs of memory loss or Alzheimer's. I run a program like that but his family just won't have him in the program. Maybe part of it is denial. What frustrates me most is that he could get hurt walking alone. Frankly, denial is not a good enough reason for a loved one to get hurt. At least the program set up at the center would give him someone to walk with.

Sometimes I get so emotional about these situations that I just want to stand up and scream. Why is it that people can not recognize when they need help? I have been working with caregivers too. Most of them seem to feel they can handle it. By letting the care receiver come down to our programs is basically saying that they, as caregivers, cannot handle the situation. I see first-hand what stress and burden this causes on a spouse or caregiver.

I truly believe that if I was ever to be in a situation like that I would definitely ask for help. But I also think that it is a generational issue, too. I know my generation would ask for help, but the generations a few years before me are hesitant. I do hope that people start realizing that there are people who truly want to help out of the goodness of their heart, with absolutely no strings attached.

Well, I would have to say I am being a little windy today. I really think that I could write more. For example, we have the tent caterpillars up here. Man, are they a problem. And there is nothing that can get rid of them. The tenants in the my apartment building seem to always have some good advice about it. But you know, they seem to be here to stay.

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