Politics in the Elder Care Community

Politics in the Elder Care Community

Jack rides his bike for exercise, as well as to the P.O. for some stamps and to the polling station on election day.

Mary is sad about the state of the world and fears she will not live to see it get better.

Lori still drives her car, still wears her politics on her lapel and goes to rallies.

Julie has spent many hours writing cards, reminding people to vote.

Dot feels the need to talk about the country’s issues, but she is afraid of offending someone. This makes her feel lonely.

Susan and her husband Zeb have organized a discussion group, involving like-minded people. They know that Dot is not the only one. 

Al walks with the aid of his rollator and voted the way he has always voted, still convinced it is right.

Roberta is upset, because she thinks she voted wrong.

Ted can explain any mess and tell you in advance how it will all turn out.

But Ted doesn’t have a clue that Kathy cries because her family is divided and she is caught in the middle.

Most people avoid such subjects at the dinner table, limiting complaints to the temperature of their soup.

All of these people live in one elder care home. They are not unusual; they are just typical old people. They have gray hair and limps and bent backs. They also have strong opinions and a sense of personal responsibility. What we can learn from them is that elderly Americans have not retired from caring about their country and their world, or their beliefs and causes.

The institutions where they live are normally neutral. There are no political speeches, no banners or promotions. But the residents are free. They can still be devoted to causes, opinionated and involved. And they are all kinds of people, all backgrounds, all concerns, all political persuasions.

Actually, some of them keep their thoughts mostly under cover, not admitting everything. Their faults, their feelings, their diseases, their opinions are private, because that’s their nature. They may live inside their own heads, not because they are old, but because they are themselves. But they still care, because they love their families, their country, and the principles they have always considered important. Especially they think about what kind of world their grandchildren will inherit.

From living in a democracy they have learned to expect a lot from the people who represent them in high places. And they are impatient, because their time is running out.