Human Contact

Today, I had planned to go and visit 'Charlie'. Before I got in my car to leave for the office, my cell phone rang and the church secretary called, letting me know that Charlie really really wanted a visit. He had recently gotten out of the hospital, and his companion is away on a trip. I figured that he would be lonely while she was gone.

Charlie is ninety years old and until this year, this hospitalization, has been independent and healthy. He wasn't just lonely, but said immediately that he was getting a bit depressed. What did my visit accomplish? I think I figured that out. Because by the time I left, Charlie was feeling much better, no longer depressed. I did nothing profound nor magical. I was simply a visitor who listened. Since I didn't know anything about Charlie's life, of course, he needed to tell me all about that.

He talked a great deal about his wife, who died eleven years ago. They had fifty two good years together. He showed me pictures of his family, both children and grandchildren. He talked about his companion of the past four years. I saw the maps of the places he had traveled, which covered most of the globe. When he had told me about all that, and showed me the pictures, he clearly realized how blessed he was, how fortunate, what a good life he has.

Talking about his life cheered him up; it's been a great life. I can see why depression would be common among older adults. We all need human contact. Sometimes the need is simply to remind us of all the good things in our lives. Without another person to share that with, one can get focused on the negative things.

Just a little bit of interaction with another human being helped his depression to lift.

I'm sure it is not always that simple, but sometimes, it probably is!