By Lori Snow, WLCJ International Vice President and International Torah Fund Chair
My lucky family and I still have my feisty mom with us. Phyllis, or as I call her when I tease her, “Phyll,” is now less than five feet tall, full of personality and increasingly opinionated. Mom has become more politically aware and verbal with age. She watches a wide variety of news programs to better understand all points of view. She starts many phone conversations with indignant comments on current events, and sometimes I need to divert the flow to other topics!
As she continues through life, she experiences many senior challenges. Everyone knows the frustration of double verification to get into a health care portal. Where do you find doctor notes? In the portal. Appointment confirmations? In the portal. So instead, she makes phone calls to the doctors’ offices. Average wait time – I get daily reports. Then she asks her questions, and maybe they call her back? Now she has a new hobby to keep her brain stimulated – trying to get doctor appointments or get a healthcare question answered! Don’t get me started on when she hears a two-month wait for an appointment…
Now let’s move on to her iPhone. About five years ago, Phyll decided she wanted to be able to communicate better with her family, so she went from flip phone to iPhone. I am proud of all she has learned: she reads the news, looks, and responds to texts, videos and pictures, and sees her great-grandchildren on Facetime. But information retention is difficult for seniors, so the family helps her practice. Part of the package.
Speaking of phone calls, Mom gets her prescriptions from the local chain pharmacy which is overwhelmed with customers. Anyone remember pharmacy delivery? Recently Phyll called for several days to get information on a prescription. No one ever picked up the phone or returned a call. So I went to the pharmacy, stood in line, and talked to the overworked clerk. New corporate policy – do not answer the phone! In a town with a huge senior living facility? ‘Corporate’ decided that phone calls were a waste of time, and they should not be bothered!
Meanwhile, the family goes to visit Mom and enjoy time together. When visiting, the residents love seeing her great-grandchildren, and the children bask in the attention. We hear about the residents’ families and share a smile at the antics of the little ones. Maybe it is good that not everyone can hear the children’s noise in the dining room?
So, when you see a senior moving deliberately down the street or slowly paying in front of you in line, please give them the space and time they need. They have enough tsuris (trouble)! They earned it.
I hope if (God willing) I become a great grandmother, I will be lucky enough to have the family’s love and respect like we have for our spirited Phyll.
Shabbat Shalom,
Lori Snow
WLCJ International Vice President and International Torah Fund Chair
lsnow@wlcj.org
