For many years, I struggled to wrap my head around death. I knew it was something that was imminent, and something that everyone would experience, but I never knew how I would manage it. When someone would reveal to me they were struggling with the death of a loved one, I would never know how to react. Since going through it myself, I now find myself getting emotional for other people who are suffering from sickness, old age or death.
My neighbour is a lovely woman, but I can tell she’s lonely. Her husband passed away many years before I even moved into my home. From my discussions with her, I don’t believe she has any children. I have taken it upon myself to check in with her several times a week to see how she is doing. It’s as if my parents passing away has made me develop a need to help other elderly people. For example, I recently helped her arrange bathroom modifications. She’s very immobile and struggles with her balance at the best of times. Then one afternoon we were having tea and I noticed a big purple bump on the side of her head. It turned out that she had fallen in the shower earlier that morning. My heart sank at the thought of this poor lady in agony in the shower with no one to call out for.
I remember initiating the discussion of the bathtub modification. I could see her hesitate before asking me ‘how much is a bathtub cut out for elderly people in Sydney?’ She knew that the prices of things in Sydney had gone up and her pension would struggle. I told her not to worry and I’d get it sorted out for her. It felt nice to be able to help her. When I think of her, I think of my elderly parents who are no longer with me. I would’ve hated for them to suffer alone. They were lucky to have me, but what if they were like my neighbour? What would’ve happened then?