Loneliness in Seniors in Nursing Homes

From My Readings This Week on Senior Citizens Issues and Concerns:

Dear Reader,

I am now 85 years old, living in a humble 12-square-meter room in a nursing home. My life has changed profoundly from the days filled with bustling family gatherings and the warmth of a full house. Though I no longer have the large home or the treasures of the past, I am cared for by the kind staff who tend to my needs—cleaning my room, preparing my meals, and attending to my health.

Gone are the days filled with laughter from my grandchildren, watching them grow, sharing hugs, and even engaging in playful squabbles. Some visit me every two weeks, others come every few months, and some not at all. Their absence leaves a heavy silence in my life that I can’t ignore.

The days of winter baking and tending to the garden feel like a distant memory. While I still have hobbies and enjoy reading, my eyes tire quickly. The loneliness of my days is a constant companion, but I try to find solace in the small acts of kindness I can offer to others. I lead group activities and help those who are in even more difficult situations than mine. 

I used to read aloud to a bedridden woman in the room next to mine, and we would sing together. Her recent passing has left a void in my heart, a reminder of how fragile and fleeting our connections truly are.

They say life is getting longer, but I often wonder why it feels so stretched when the days are filled with solitude. I find comfort in the photographs of my family that I keep close and the memories I cherish from my life before this.

I hope that future generations will come to understand the importance of family and cherish their connections, even as they grow older. I want my children to know how much I love them, but please, keep this letter private.

With all my love, Grandma Maria

Meanwhile, here's my Joke of the Day:

A Polish man married an American woman, and even though his English wasn’t perfect, they got along just fine.

One day, he bursts into a lawyer’s office, looking panicked.

Man: "I need divorce! Please help!"

Lawyer: "A divorce? Well, that depends on your situation. Do you have any grounds?"

Man: "Yes, yes! One acre and nice little house."

Lawyer: "No, I mean—what’s the foundation of your case?"

Man: "Oh! Made of concrete."

Lawyer: sighs "Sir, do you and your wife have a grudge?"

Man: "No need! We have carport!"

Lawyer: "Let’s try again… what are your relations like?"

Man: "All still in Poland."

Lawyer: "Sir, has there been any infidelity in your marriage?"

Man: "Oh yes! We have hi-fidelity stereo and good DVD player."

Lawyer: "No, I mean… does your wife ever beat you up?"

Man: "No, no, I wake up before her every day!"

Lawyer: getting frustrated "Then why do you want a divorce?"

Man: "Because she try to kill me!"

Lawyer: "What?! What makes you think that?"

Man: "I have proof! She buy bottle at drugstore… put in bathroom!"

Lawyer: "And what did the bottle say?"

Man: "Right on label… 'Regular Polish Remover!'"

Lastly, Did you know that......

Contrary to popular belief, Tagalog was not the trade language of Maritime Southeast Asia. In fact, it was Malay that served as a common language for communication, even in the Philippines, where Spaniards noted that locals in Manila and Cebu used Malay to interact with foreigners. This was the case across the region—different local languages existed, but Malay acted as the business and trade lingua franca.

However, when the Philippines gained independence, the Tagalog spoken in the capital became the foundation of the national language, as Malay had largely faded from use in the northern and central regions during the colonial period. Meanwhile, Malay remained prominent in Borneo and much of Indonesia, which is why it became the base for Indonesia's national language instead of Javanese.