HOW WE HELP THE ELDERLY

Mrs. Maria is 87 years old and remembers in the smallest detail how she lost her son before he had even turned 18. She keeps his last photo alive at her bedside, but right next to it, she also keeps the photo from his funeral. This is exactly how the thoughts she confesses to us flow: between describing her son—with a long list of qualities and the love she still carries for him—and the day she was left without him. She lived through the ultimate tragedy, yet she had the strength to move forward, to be a dedicated mother to her other child and a good wife, to work in a factory, and to support her family. Her eyes no longer help her, and she needs two canes just to take a step, but her house is as clean as it was when she was still in her prime. She knows the place of every object by heart, so she sweeps and moves among her belongings as if she could see.

Now, she is alone and isolated. When you can no longer see, can no longer move around, and have no one left around you, you end up living only on memories. Because she can't even watch television anymore, she spends her days reliving the important moments of her family's life. When she wants to cheer herself up, it is enough to think of the happiest moments she ever lived—her fairytale wedding that lasted three days. She prays and dreams of hearing real voices again. Loneliness is terrible, especially during the holidays. A basket of food, a word of encouragement, or a helping hand could bring her a ray of hope.