Aging Alone

Aging Alone

It was a simple food delivery. Two small bags from McDonald’s with an unknown destination. The address was unfamiliar yet the instruction indicated the recipient was handicapped. The notes read, “please bring the food inside”.

My GPS system led me to an assisted living facility. It looked like a prison from the outside without the wire caging. The building was large and 5 stories high. The parking lot held hundreds of cars yet only a few remained in scattered places.

As I walked to the front of the entrance my mind was telling me I would expect to find a nurse or assistant at the front counter as this usually is the occurrence at other living facilities. I walked into the double glass doors and noticed an office that was empty. There were several hallways leading in different directions and a set of elevators at the entrance. All the hallways darkly lit with no light coming from any of the doors that led along each hallway. A hallways the approximate length of a football field. None of the hallways had building numbers or an area map.

I started down the first hallway and noticed the number D101. I continued to walk down the hallway to see if the number would change. As I descended down the dark eerie hallway I was haunted like a scene from the Shining. Chills went through me as I imagined who may be residing in each of the rooms. No light or noise coming from any door. I decided to call the customer and ask which side of the building and what floor he resided in. I did not want to walk down each hallway a reminder of the end of a life.

I called the customer and he directed me to the cottages located behind the main building. He said, ‘we are in the back”. A little irritated with no understanding why I was relieved that he was not alone. I drove to the back of the building and noticed what appeared to be an open area with surrounding apartments.

I found the apartment and knocked on the door. The man asked me to enter the home. As I walked in, I noticed the elder man lying in a hospital bed with a table tray next to him. I glanced around the place and no one else was in the home which consisted of the living room, a bathroom, and a kitchen. Glancing around the place was dirty and trash lined the living area. Only one chair sat in the corner of the room. It was dark and the only light came from the window to which the gentleman faced.

The gentleman who I will call Gary because my mind went blank even after it starred at me from my phone. Gary asked me if I would open the bags and place the items on the table beside him. I did as Gary requested and he pulled out an ice cream sundae and a large tea. He held the ice cream in front of me and said, “since it is melted due to the delay can you please put it in the freezer and bring me a pint of the chocolate ice cream “. My mind was telling me I should not be in the home doing this but I wanted to help in some desperate duty to the divine. I felt obligated to assist this man who was alone in a bed unable to move on his own. My heart ached for the life not lived.

I walked into the kitchen which looked very dirty. This placed needed to be cleaned and I winced as I opened the freezer door. The freezer was filled with containers of ice cream. Nothing but ice cream and two cups of ice. Gary yelled from the other room and asked if I could bring him a cup of ice while I was in there. I obliged and brought one pint of chocolate ice cream and a cup of ice.

I set the items on his table and he thanked me for helping him but it was not a normal thank you. Gary looked me in the eyes and said, ‘Thank you”. He looked embarrassed and apologetic with pride bursting from his speech. I realized in that instant that life is a gift and friendship should be cherished. I cried walking back to my car. I cried for this man and every other senior who once lived a vital life now alone and vulnerable in a dark corner of a room.