i’m signed up for a service learning class, gerontology. gerontology is the study of aging, and throughout the semester we have to log in hours spending time at a nursing home. today was orientation, and although i can’t speak for others, i love it. my service learning location specializes in taking care of seniors with mild to severe dementia. i always thought dementia was just forgetting things, but it’s much more complicated than that. my orientation lead, ms. rosemary, was telling me about a patient who has dementia, but only short-term memory dementia. dementia can progress, but for now, his long-term memory is sharp as a knife. in fact, he is a former english professor and can correct papers with pinpoint accuracy. i met my conversation partner today. she is a sweet lady who has traveled the world. during our brief introduction, she seemed so happy to see me. she told me she remembered i just got married, and that my wife was a minister. (we are instructed to go with whatever they say as this may trigger their memory) i told her yes, and she asked how my marriage was. i told her it was well, before ms. rosemary pulled me to continue the introduction for other students.
everybody we met was so sweet. there was one older gentleman that was on his player shit lol. as he saw the group walk around he introduced himself to the ladies and began hugging every one of them. we saw him at a different location later during the orientation and he did the same exact thing as before as he began hugging all the girls after he introduced himself again.
i am looking forward to this service learning class, and this definitely, so far, has been one of my favorite courses i’ve taken here at uncc.
-ratha, 7:10pm, 1.24.20