25/08/2025
During an assessment in a care home, I asked a lady how she was engaging in activities and if her family visited. She said her husband comes by occasionally and that her daughters visit too.
Then I gently asked, “Do your daughters take you out sometimes?” She smiled softly and said, “Oh, she doesn’t have time; she’s busy.”
That response stopped me for a moment. I thought about how life changes — how someone who once led, guided, and nurtured now waits, dependent on others, sometimes hearing the words, “I’m busy.”
Life is humbling. Every phase — youth, adulthood, old age — is a gift. The positions we hold, the strength we have, the opportunities we’re given, they’re not permanent, and they’re not just for us. They’re meant to bless others and create memories that will last long after those moments have passed.
For many elderly people, this shift can be frustrating and painful. It can feel like losing part of who they are — no longer being the one others turn to, but the one relying on others for even the simplest things.
But there’s another way to see it. Growing older is also a privilege. It’s a chance to witness a full circle — to see those you once invested in now caring for you in return. To appreciate the quiet beauty of that exchange.
So, whatever phase you’re in — young, middle-aged, or growing older — cherish it. Appreciate it. Make the most of it. And above all, live in gratitude, because every stage of life has its own lessons and blessings. ❤️
Dr Edith Ngarka