Journey to Sunset:

A Reflection on Geriatric Care

Daryll Jeremy Virtudes

“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant
of the week and strong. Because someday you will have been all of these.”
- George Washington

Days roll so fast. The evolution of things turns to be unnoticeable because of the vast transition
of time. As days go by, our time in the land is getting thinner and thinner; our end is getting nearer as well.
In some fortunate events, as we face new dawns there are people who are living for a length of time and
demand responsibility that is priceless and requires compassion. Dementia, arthritis and glaucoma, these
are just some of the burdens that these people are facing from. They lack with control, consciousness and
tolerance, thus they need us.
My family’s forefathers and foremothers had fortunately lived for more than a century and more
than nine decades. My Lola lived for 104 years and my Lolo lived for a century. The gracious hands of God
allowed this to happen. However, complementary to their long life is a huge responsibility of taking care
of them. I have taken care four (4) of my grandmothers and grandfathers and I experienced first-hand
care to them. Carrying them going to the bathroom for bathing is quite source of muscle cramping, wiping
their butts after poop and changing diapers will really test how tough is your stomach tolerance is and
having the patience to talk with them unsubstantially and repeatedly in a single topic will really be tested.
When I was taking care of my late grandma [mother of my grandma], I was really challenge physically and
academically; my grades were pulled down because of low scores during exams, because I cannot
concentrate well in reviewing due to the screams and shouts of my Lola during night time. That’s the time
also when I developed insomnia. In lieu of advance reading and sleeping, I have to attend to her needs
because only I and my another grandma is in the house. I can really say how challenging it was particularly
in my academics. Nevertheless, I took it as a blessing, because I had the chance of taking care of the person
who became one of my biggest supporters when I was still in the elementary and secondary grades. I can
still consider it as a blessing because God allowed me to contribute my strength in giving palliative care to
my Lola. I find caring elders as an opportunity to pay back to all their sacrifices to me. And now, I am the
one taking care again of my Lola Lapaz [ant of my grandpa] who is 96 years old, fortunately she is still
strong but every night I check her VS.
George Washington really nailed the fact that we must be patient and loving to our elders. One
day in our lives they done something and that something is now part of who we are. It is priceless and
precious, indeed. Aging is inevitable, hence we must be kind to them because soon we’ll be like them also.
Sacrifice if necessary, for once they’ve sacrificed for you.