Don’t Let Your Parents Fade Away While You’re Still Here
The quiet loneliness of aging is real. Small gestures from us can mean everything to them. A few months ago, I watched an elderly man at a small park bench feeding birds with his trembling hands. He checked his phone three times in the hour I was there, each time with a hopeful look. No one called. He was alone , just like so many parents in their later years who once raised children, gave their best years to family and work, and now wait silently for someone to remember them. We don’t talk enough about the loneliness many older people feel. Not because they can’t express it, but because they often choose not to. They don’t want to sound needy. They don’t want to “bother” anyone. So, they sit quietly, often masking their feelings with routine and resilience. But research in psychology shows that isolation in older adults can lead to depression, anxiety, and even memory problems. These aren’t vague risks. They’re real, measurable, and visible in nursing homes and quiet living rooms acr...