Getting older gracefully

Getting older is not for the faint of heart. I’m fact it’s hard everything seems to hurt in places that you never imagined. You slow down and sometimes to an almost stop. I have two aging family members. It’s been eye opening to see how the body reacts in different situations.

This past weekend the care home where my dad is put on an amazing Christmas lunch. They decorated up the home with a beautiful Christmas tree and decorated so beautifully. Each resident could have two guests come. Some brought their entire families. My mom invited me to go. The care home was filled with happy people sharing time with their loved ones.

My dad was sleeping when we arrived and the people who worked there tried to wake him up but he was not able to be woken up from his deep sleep. We were able to eat in his room. They set up a table white cloths and made a very special table for my mom while my dad slept. I loved watching how the caretakers interact with my dad. They truly love him. They had to wake him up so he could get his Tylenol in pudding.

My dad was awake for about 15 minutes and my mom and I took turns feeding him but realizing that solids are hard for him to swallow and twice he felt like he was choking. Food even feeling him is getting harder for him. While he was awake my mom went over to him and was taking to him but he can’t communicate with us. He then drifted back off to sleep. My mom and I ate our lunch and hung out. Its hard to watch someone you love so much be like this.

Before we left we both spent time with him and it’s very interesting he can still hear us even though he’s not awake because his body language told me that. I kissed him on his forehead and told him I loved him.

Life is short my motto is to live your life to the fullest everyday and make sure you let your loved ones know how much you love them, because they won’t be around forever.