THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021 LESSONS FROM GERMAN CLASS (again)

 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021 LESSONS FROM GERMAN CLASS (again)

THE GREAT ESCAPE

Since late September (so about six weeks), I’ve been working part-time at a senior independent living facility.  It is a very nice place.  It seems that most (all?) of the residents I serve are in their 90’s (with the possible exception of EB who is 100!!).  B is 98; G is 95, N is 90, Mi is 95, etc.

As an independent living facility - it is close to an assisted living facility (without quite being one).  There is a great cafeteria where residents can eat delicious meals three times a day.  From my parent’s experience, the cooking factor was one of the determinants to move out of their own apartment into a group housing facility. My mother had vision problems, my father only cooked on backyard grills and microwaved meals get a little tiresome after a while!!!

This facility is independent living. Residents can come and go.  There is a nice exercise trail that circles the property (I’ve taken it a few times and seen a doe and two fawns).  They had also kinds of events, movies, cards, billiards, putting golf greens, bean-bag toss, exercise, speakers, lady’s club, religious services, singing, (no band - maybe I’ll need to start one!!!), two very large libraries, and even poker (I don’t know if they play for money or not).  

The cafeterias (there are two buildings joined by a walkway) have excellent meals (I generally eat differ with G (who is 95).  On nice afternoons, some sit outside getting some sun or taking walks.

Many of the residents use walkers to keep from falling.  (Hmm, maybe they could have walker relay races!!).  Some people have cars, there are also facility buses that will take residents to events and shopping.  

*****

The “Great Escape” lesson from my Duolingo German app describes a lady who comes to visit her father - and she can’t find him at the facility.  The lady looks in the library, the game room, the cafeteria, and doesn’t find her dad.  She asks his friends - who laugh and suggest that Dietrich has “escaped”.  (The “Great Escape” translates as “Die Grosse Flucht” in German)

Now, some senior facilities do very carefully monitor their residents and don’t let them leave.  In particular, seniors with dementia should be kept in secure facilities.  I know of a lady who would take a walk and get lost and that caused consternation in the facility and in her family.

In the German story, Dietrich is in a secure housing facility but doesn’t seem to have dementia. He is described as an athletic “neunundachtzigjähriger” (eighty-nine years old) man.  The residents have a garden and in that garden, Dietrich finds he can climb over the fence.  He has been talking about it quietly with his buddies at the facility.  

On the day, the daughter (Bianca) comes to visit, she can’t find him anywhere.  When she asks his friends in the coffee room, they laugh that he may have tried the ‘Great Escape’. “Grosse Flucht”  

Bianca climbs over the fence and follows the sidewalk to a business district, where she finds her father in an ice cream shop (with chocolate ice cream and chocolate sprinkles).  He is in good spirits ‘having escaped’ for a little while.  Bianca enjoys an ice cream cone with her father

*****

I guess I liked the lesson (maybe since I’m working with some super seniors now, and maybe because I am a senior.

I like the idea of having “an adventure” - getting outside our comfort zone.  Sure the residents at my work environment have “free will”, they can sit in their apartments and watch television, or get out and be part of the groups and activities.  

But, I’m guessing some have almost forgotten that they are free to get outside, free to take walks, free to go to the putting green, free to go to the knitting group.  

Inertia has set in, and as a result, they miss out on adventures like the one in the story.  Their comfort zones just sag in and they settle into a long, downhill rut.

I do know that the staff (and especially the recreation director) do try to get them doing some activities, but the motivation to try new things can be hard for somebody in their nineties.  

To me, the “Grosse Flucht” (Great Escape) story in my online Duolingo German activities says that Bianca’s dad still has the motivation, to get out - even if only to walk to the ice cream shop for a chocolate cone with chocolate sprinkles.  The facilities are different between the story and my work environment, but the aging process is the same.  We can start to shut down as we age.  

And, I am reflecting - will I be playing tuba into my eighties (or nineties?); will be playing bridge, will I be walking as much, will I still be writing this daily blog, will I be playing granny basketball?  Or, will I let life go past and let television be my “best buddy”.  (Many of you know I don’t have a television set intentionally).

I like Warren Buffet - at age 91 - aging and active.  (Not knowing him personally, my guess is that he does delegate more things to others, and doesn’t work as hard as he did at a younger age - but that he does keep active!!!)

Or will I be like BM at the retirement center - just waiting and actively praying for God to take her?

*****

So, maybe I (and maybe all of us) need to make a “Grosse Flucht” (great escape) occasionally.  Maybe we still need to expand our comfort zone!!  (More next week).

LOVE WINS!!!

Karen