Patients

Starting off my volunteer experience I was greeted by the lead director a man named Red. He is in charge of looking after the 100 or so elderly people they have at the facility. More women are staying at Fatima Villa than men because unfortunately it appears that women out live men. So the ratio of the men and women in this particular home aren't even around 2:5. However, they still spend their time looking after these people as if they were the employees' own grandparents.
When I arrived I was put to work right away comforting and interacting with the people there. I was at a loss due to the fact I was put in the room where the people are past the ability to talk. The lady I was able to understand a few words she told me she had a stroke and that she was trying to work out more to get in better shape. She loved to play volleyball and I would pass it from her left and right sides working on her coordination. Although I do not remember her name I do remember one characteristic which was her hands. I was intrigued by the way you could see each vein in her hand and that her entire hand looked like it was in water too long. This must be the result from age and the health issues she had had in the past. The good outcome of the visit was I was able to watch and help out with their workout class.
 A enthusiastic lady was mixing normal weights with the join positions that they were able to perform. She had them circumduct their wrists and extend their arms and legs. She was also depressing and elevating their shoulders and other simple positions they would be able to do. I thought it was healthy for them to do some type of workout to keep them busy and healthy since most sit in wheelchairs or have serious health issues. After the workout most were falling asleep so we escorted them to their rooms and I helped clean up the room. Something that was interesting was while I was helping out all the music and television shows available were from a completely different time. The music was more jazz and classical melodies than todays pop and rap music. The television was also interesting since they were watching old cowboy and Indian re-runs. It seemed the people their thought it was normal as the weather, but it was almost like they were keeping them in this safe bubble of when they last were able to remember or something they enjoyed. As if the past was a better way to live each day thinking about the "good old times".