Today I typed "Elder Appreciation" into Google, hoping I would find some interesting articles about great things communities are doing for their elders, or a nice story on how a school has dedicated lots of time visiting an assisted living facility. Instead, I found stories dedicated to various Elder Appreciation Days. While celebrating elders for a day is fantastic, it raises a pertinent question: How do we treat elders on the other 364 days of the year?
Speaking with others about this topic, I have encountered several different answers. The best responses I hear always come from people who speak about their parents, and how taking care of them has been such a joy. A friend of mine, who has three children, told me that every day it gives her so much joy to speak about her children with her own parents. When her oldest got accepted into college, the first person she called was her mother, and they were both ecstatic at the news. For me, stories like this were always among the favorites that I shared with my mother and father. First steps, first words, and any exciting news were always quickly followed by a phone call. While taking care of my parents often proved difficult and stressful, the joy of speaking with my parents about almost anything as they got older far outweighed the negatives. They always gave me great wisdom, and I always enjoyed sharing new and old memories with them.
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