His body is weak, but his mind is strong.

My dad is 80 and has Parkinson's Disease. In the last 18 months he has had to stop driving and walking is becoming increasingly difficult.

Just because a persons legs don't work, doesn't mean their minds don't. My dad's mind is still pretty darn sharp. He watches the news every day and is able to discuss a number of timely subjects; as well as the usual guy stuff like sports, cars, and the weather. He reads the Sunday paper cover to cover and he knows his bible too.

He never says anything about it, but I know it hurts his feelings when sales people ignore him and talk to either me or mom, as if he weren't even there. For chrissakes he's a 6'2" 170 lb. black man! How the heck can you ignore his presence?!? :angryfire2:

For instance, Friday we had to get his car serviced. When the service manager had the bill ready my dad handed her his charge card. She gave me the bill to sign and a pen. I looked at her as if she were nuts and slid the bill and pen over to dad. She actually picked up the pen and handed it back to me! Saying I could sign it. I took the pen and gave it to my father and told her, "it's his credit card, my name is not on the account." She seemed annoyed because she could see that he moves slow. :irked: But he still moves! Good Lord, the more I think about it the more angry I get. I think I need to go back and give her one of my dressing downs, Julia Sugarbaker style. Given the fact we came in for an oil change and left four hours and $600 later.* She's lucky neither of us blessed her out or passed out from hunger. That's my rant for today.

In closing, please remember that senior citizens are people too and they deserve to be treated with respect and courtesy. Don't just sweep them aside like a dust bunny; that could be you or your loved one a few years down the road.Just because their bodies are failing doesn't mean that their minds are.


* The $600 bill was because we ended up having to get 4 new tires and an alignment. I saw the tires and was shocked to see the front two had worn clear through to the steel in the steel belted radials. But only on the interior treads. The wear was identical on both front tires which I thought a bit odd; but apparently that's common.

Comments

I am an AARP member, so it does my heart good to her you talk this way about us old folks.

My parents are in their 80s and I spent the afternoon with them today. They are still very valid, vibrant human beings, no matter what minor physical deficits they may have acquired. They are worthy of attention and respect simply due to the awful things they've survived.

BTW, it does the lout no good when you dress him down. If you need to vent, then it's OK, but don't expect to see any results. Some people see stupidity as a God-given right.
 
PA,

It is what I call the senior disease. It is quite sad actually and I have had to turn some folks around when they performed that bit of bad behavior on my aunts mother father etc. The justice is that if we live long enough of us get old. That is why you have to be his advocate.
 
Your Dad is lucky to have you to stand beside him. My Dad's 92, and still drives ! Quite spunky mentally, i've come to accept & love him. They won't be around forever. Bless em.
 
i think with the women in the shop that she may be more afraid of looking stupid and giving him the bill and you going "wtf he has parkinsons! let me see that or something". small chance. other than that i agree with you
 

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