Oops

The other day, while visiting dad at the nursing home, another visitor that I've come to know stopped by with news and pictures of a new granddaughter. There were smiles and excitement as we marveled over the peaceful smile on the babies face and the amount of beautiful, dark hair.  I enjoyed the pictures and handed them back to the new grandmother, who then handed them to the CNA who was there.

It was only after they left with the pictures that I realized that none of us had thought to share the pictures with the two residents who were sitting with us at the table.  Even though it was the memory care unit, both were women who are communicative and known to all of us.  But there they sat, smiling as we talked about the baby, but not included in the picture viewing or conversation.

How sad that we so unconsciously contribute to making the senior population invisible.  So sad that we've also taken away their voices.  A number of years ago there was an uproar over security cameras in senior care facilities.  The argument against them was that they would infringe on the privacy of the residents.  Perhaps they could also be the eyes and the voice for the residents, documenting their lives for our edification and/or education.  Sometimes it's just too easy not to see.