My Experience Caring for Elderly Disabled People #237

Hello everyone, and happy new week! I hope this week brings you joy and peace.

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Right now, I'm looking at a touching contest theme that really speaks to the heart. Why do I say that? Because it's about caring for the elderly, especially those living with disabilities. It's something we should all take seriously because, if we live long enough, we’ll all grow old one day. And you wished you were cared for.

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Thank you @kerrislravenhill for this thoughtful reminder.

Let me share my experience during a recent church program where I volunteered to care for people with disabilities.

This kind of care required being physically present and attentive. At the end of it all, I realized something important: everyone, including people with disabilities, is special in their own way.

Many of them are very intelligent, yes, even more than you'd expect. Of course, like everyone else, they can also act silly at times. Balancing their strengths and weaknesses can feel challenging, especially if you're not patient or understanding. Sometimes, they might think you're treating them differently because of their condition, even when that's not the case.

During a church conference, I volunteered to help care for elderly people with disabilities.

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Our duties included taking their meals to their halls, making sure they had eaten and were feeling okay, adjusting the air conditioner when it got too cold or hot and helping them get to the restroom. These were the main tasks I handled.

Let me share one particular incident that stood out.

One morning, while distributing breakfast, I noticed that one of the elderly people I was assigned to care for was not present. From experience, I knew they could be sensitive and quick to complain if they missed a meal. So, I decided to keep an extra plate of food just in case he returned.

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However, the food coordinator saw me doing this and got upset. He assumed I was keeping extra food for myself and asked why I needed more after already receiving my portion. I tried to explain that I wasn’t keeping it for myself, but for a disabled person who would definitely return and likely complain if he wasn’t served. Despite my explanation, the coordinator took the food back and walked away.

Not long after, the man in the wheelchair came in and just as I expected, he started complaining about how hungry he was. I wanted to direct him to the coordinator, but seeing him in that state made me feel sorry for him. Instead of going back to face another argument, I decided to use my own money to buy him some special food and a drink.

What surprised me was that someone else in the same hall had been observing everything I did. I hadn’t realized it at the time, but later I found out that my actions made an impact.

After the program that day, I received a warm apology, not from the coordinator himself, but from someone else who had been observing everything. Surprisingly, this same person took me out to the market and told me he had a surprise for me. To my shock, he gifted me a large sum of money. I honestly didn’t expect that, and I would never have guessed that he even had that kind of money in his account.
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Looking back, the day I chose to volunteer and care for elderly people with disabilities turned out to be a day full of unexpected blessings. What started as a simple act of service, helping out, being misunderstood, and going the extra mile ended with me receiving a heartfelt gift.

I went home that day reflecting on everything: how I made the choice to help, how I was wrongly accused, and how it all led to someone rewarding me in such a generous and unexpected way just because I stayed kind and handled the situation with maturity.

Thank you for reading up to this point. I wish you a wonderful and fulfilling week. Take good care of yourself!