The article below is a confession of Mr. Truong (China) being shared on the Toutiao platform.
Decision to enter nursing home
This year, I am 74 years old. My wife passed away many years ago. My children work far away and only come home once a year during Tet. For nearly 10 years, I have been living alone, so sometimes I feel lonely and empty.
It was not until a year ago that I decided to move into a nursing home near my house when I felt my health gradually weakening. When I checked in, I thought this was my paradise. Because there were many old people my age. We could make friends, socialize and share stories of the past.
After being guided and introduced to the nursing home by the nurse, I had my first meal here. Overall, the food was quite delicious and nutritious.
In the following days, I gradually got used to the lifestyle here. I had 3 meals a day, exercised regularly and participated in social activities.
However, after 2 months, I got used to everyone, but I still felt empty and lonely. I started to miss my children but they could only visit me every 2 weeks.
One day, I saw Mr. Truong's children come to the nursing home and celebrate his birthday. I couldn't help but shed tears. At that moment, the nurse poured me a glass of water and gently comforted me: "I understand how you feel. Everyone here treats each other like family members. On your birthday, we can still hold parties like this."
Hearing this, I could only nod and wipe away my tears. At this moment, I gradually understood that I needed to learn how to find happiness here and that not remembering my children was a way to free myself.
As time passed, I had been living in the nursing home for almost half a year. During those 6 months, I actively participated in many activities organized by the nurses and doctors as a way to forget the loneliness. I gradually built relationships with good friends such as the enthusiastic Mr. Duong and the caring Mr. Ly.
I always admit to everyone that life here is really good. However, I still feel empty inside. I feel more and more depressed. My children also visit and call less and less. They usually just call to ask a few questions and then quickly hang up.
Finding support in the final years of life
Unable to let myself wallow in that sadness, I decided to share this story with my old friends in my room. After breakfast that morning, I took a deep breath and began to express my feelings and loneliness.
“I have lived here for almost a year but I always feel empty inside. The number of times my children visit or call is getting less and less…”, I said as tears welled up in my eyes.
The more I shared, the more I felt like I could release the worries that were tormenting me. Right after sharing, I unexpectedly received words of comfort from Mr. Duong. “I understand how you feel. It is understandable to miss home, miss your children, and find this life boring. But we cannot give up.”
“That’s right, even though our children are far away, don’t you still have many friends here like us?”, Mr. Ly said as he patted my shoulder. At this point, I realized I was not alone.
Since that day, I gradually regained hope in life. I actively communicated with everyone in the nursing home and realized that each person had their own stories and concerns. Through sharing, we encouraged each other to overcome the difficulties of old age.
Giving love, I also receive help from everyone. Although the children do not visit often, I still receive attention from friends here.
Finally, I realized that, not children, the support in the last years of life is each person's own positive and optimistic attitude towards life.
This way, I became happier and felt more peaceful. I learned to appreciate the present moments and people instead of being lost in missing my children.
Dinh Anh
Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/o-1-nam-trong-vien-duong-lao-u75-nhan-ra-chang-phai-con-cai-day-moi-la-noi-tru-an-cuoi-doi-172240923100033937.htm
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