Today was an interesting day of visiting Graceland, a nearby aging facility in Austin, Texas. I arrived on a rainy Sunday, so most residents were in their rooms, either sleeping or watching TV. In the living room, though, a cheerful resident named Rose, asked me how I was doing. We talked about shoes, movies, and Rose’s life in Grace House. I noticed every two minutes she would look out at the door, as if she was expecting someone. I found out that her daughter might be coming today to visit her.

The look of anxiousness and excitement in Rose’s face was very apparent. In the living room, one resident entered. I later found out she had the most advanced case of Dementia in the entire facility. Unable to open her eyes and only able to mutter when she wanted food or blanket, I wondered if anyone had visited her anytime soon. “Oh, poor thing,” Rose says when she sees me staring at the Resident. Next, a fellow volunteer and I make rounds to see some residents in their rooms. The first lady we visit is resting on her bed. She looks very tired and worn out. I notice a big birthday balloon next to her bed. I would not be too happy to be spending my birthday this way either. The volunteer asks if she would like any company or anything else. A sad no is all we get back from her. I can’t help but feel sorrow for her. Next we visit a resident named Ms. Billie Jean in a far bigger room. She’s watching the news about Hurricane Florence and there are baby pictures all over her room. She compliments my hair, and we talk about families- a very common topic I find myself talking about with the residents. Next, we go back into the living room to see some male residents.

They are watching Golden Girls. We ask one of them if they would like to play a game. He whispers, “Whatever you all would like to do.” He’s constrained to a wheelchair, so we decide to throw balloon back and forth to him.

As we play, I notice he starts engaging with his foot. I'm just astonished with how such a simple game can really activate a person’s abilities. As my visit comes to an end, the facility’s event coordinator shows to a hallway and says, “Im just going to warn you all about this patient.” He then goes on to explain that do to this resident’s advanced dementia, he tends to say some inappropriate things to visitors. I feel bad that someone could have no control or recollection of what they say and that will lead them to have a bad reputation. Still, I steer clear of that area. Lastly, I visit a pretty young resident who looks about 60 in his room. There’s candy all over the room and he seems very happy and content. We make a little small talk and then I leave him to continue watching tv. Overall, this visit was very interesting because I met a whole variety of people that were very upbeat, alert and didn’t have any dementia, to people who are at the most advanced stages of dementia, and everywhere between. It was a big eye opener that each resident needs different ways to activate their brains and bodies. For some, just a conversation is good. But for others, they can’t hold a conversation, so the only way to interact are with games. Definitely going to use this new knowledge in the future. I urge everyone to take a moments time to spend time a the aging residency because by connecting with them you are helping them through theri.