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Hazel Marimbiza
At 65 years old or suffering from different illnesses such as heart problems, strokes and mental health issues is not only a horrible experience.
Isolation is one of the huge issues that the elderly face and this can be acutely felt if they are alone on Christmas Day without any form of entertainment and missing being with family and friends.
As such B-Metro took time to visit the old people at Ekuphumuleni Geriatric Nursing Home to hear what kind of Christmas they expected.
Lying on her back on a single bed, a coarse blanket over her body, a thin pillow beneath her head, a smile brightening her rather young face for her age, 71-year-old Joyce Moyo said she longs for sweet music.
“It’s been a long time since I heard people singing and laughing together because I spend most of my time lying in bed. I hope Christmas will be a day I will hear lots of music, preferably gospel music because I want to forget about my pains,” said Moyo.
She added: “I come from Nkayi so I’m not really sure if my relatives will be able to visit me. Having lots of people around so that we can sing along together would make me very happy.”
Usually there can be assumptions that older people don’t have the same feelings as younger folks or don’t get the joy in being remembered or feeling important to somebody.
But the old folks said they would like to be remembered.
Dropping off a gift to an older person can make a huge difference.
“I expect to get a small present for Christmas. It’s been a while since someone gave me a gift,” said Glorious Sibalo who is 68 years old.
Sibalo sat on her single bed, with her fingers laced together, smiling slightly, her head tilted a little, away from the window light.
When asked her previous Christmas experiences she was quiet for a while and only sat smiling. Her eyes dropped to the swell of her chest and rested there until she realised where she was looking and raised them again.
“We usually have good food on Christmas. But this time I not only want the good food. I want it to be memorable. We don’t usually have any form of entertainment here. We don’t usually mingle with lots of people. We want all that,” said Sibalo.
Speaking to B-Metro, Sukoluhle Hove, the administrator at the home said everyone could do something to tackle the loneliness that is blighting far too many lives at the home.
“Just coming in to have a friendly chat with them can do more good than most of us would ever guess, and at a very little cost to ourselves. In fact I guarantee you they will feel better too as a result of that kind gesture,” said Hove.
Online Reporter