Podcast An old issue: EPISODE 8 – (IN 2024) DON'T LEAVE THE ELDERLY ALONE

Hello, my name is Ricardo Crispim, and this is the first episode of 2024 from the podcast "An Old Issue"!

I hope you had an excellent New Year's celebration. Mine, in keeping with tradition, was in Praça do Comércio in Lisbon. The transition from 2023 to 2024 was peculiar this year... and do you know why? Because I had thousands of mobile phone screens in front of me, and the view of the Tagus River, which could have been memorable for the best reasons, became memorable for the strangest ones. Sign of the times, I guess.

Well, among the most common New Year's resolutions people make is to learn something new, such as playing a musical instrument or painting, or something else that no one will remember the next day. Given that I don't master any of these options, I chose, and brace yourselves dear listeners, we're going to learn how to unsettle the elderly.

Now, the first thing you'll need is... quite obvious. Do you want to take a guess? That's right, you’ll need to have older people around us. Not very difficult, especially since we are now the country occupying the second position in Europe and the fifth in the world in terms of aging population. In other words, there are more elderly people per square meter than cobblestones. And let me tell you, they are many. Olé!! The second thing we need to disturb the peace of the elderly is... willingness. That's right! Willingness to be with them, do things with them, talk to them, socialize with them, have coffee or tea with them (and here, personal preferences are not up for discussion), take a walk with them (but nearby, considering the cost of travel these days... come to think about it- let's leave that aside)!

So, let’s find that "willingness," and make sure you have older people around that you can unsettle. So, with these two entities together - willingness and older people - which adds up to the willingness to be with older people, the conditions are met to not let the elderly rest in peace.

This New Year's resolution is perhaps the one that will be most easily fulfilled, provided we want to, and have the willingness to do so! This makes it possible for anyone, even those with little ability, to disturb the peace of an elderly person. So, we can start with the simplest of tasks. Use your mobile phone and make a phone call, contact them by phone. For example, try dialing the phone number of your grandfather or grandmother, if you still have them, of course, and give them a ring. It's an exercise, how shall I put it without offending anyone, for beginners. That's right! Recap: take your mobile phone, dial the phone number of your grandparents, and if they answer, you can talk. Or listen. Or both. Any of the above options is valid and simply brings them good feelings. A simple task, and this way, you meet the requirements to be good grandchildren. But then we can explore that in another tutorial. Oh, if grandparents aren't a good option, for various reasons, you can always call an aunt or an uncle... Whatever. The choice is yours!

Now, imagine that you work in an institution that supports the elderly, such as a Residential Structure for the Elderly (ERPI) or an Elderly Home (or whatever you want to call it), a Day Center, or something similar. There are quite viable options to ensure that this New Year's resolution is fulfilled in these contexts. Although it is a riskier challenge, it is possible. This involves replacing the television and the boredom in which many elderly people find themselves when using these services, providing them, for example, with your company or meaningful activities for them, not for yourself. It also involves moments when they are genuinely heard or the implementation of suggestions that these elderly individuals have given.

In 2005, in a study conducted by Geraldine Boyle (Ph.D. in Social Politics and professor at the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education, and Language Studies at the Open University in the United Kingdom), 214 residents in a nursing home in Ireland were heard. This study showed that existing rules in these contexts, but mainly the lack of relevant stimuli, are strongly associated with a considerable increase in depression in this group of people. The study's author highlighted a statement from a resident that expressed, and I quote: "- I'm not very happy sitting here all day. That's what depresses me." The link to access the article is available in the description of this episode.

In reality, this New Year's resolution does not require us to be Einsteins or even try to reinvent the wheel, let alone be innovative. To fulfill this New Year's resolution, it is enough to identify what brings happiness to the person and then stimulate that source of happiness. And in most cases, just unsettling the person by listening, giving them a little time (from that hectic time we claim not to have). In fact, I said that this New Year's resolution does not require us to be innovative. Well, I take back what I said: if it is not common practice to listen to the elderly, and if in 2024 this becomes a meaningful practice, both for professionals and for the elderly, yes, it becomes an innovative action. I don't know if you are aware, but innovation is always contextual.

Throughout 2023, I insisted on this theme: listening to people. In fact, I deeply believe in the power of active listening. I am not a believer, nor am I spiritual, but I am sure that being and listening is somehow close to the power of prayer: the power of balance and reconnection. That alone explains why the majority of older people like to tell (their) stories. Talking - feeling heard - among other things, makes them feel a sense of belonging to a space and a group. It must have been profoundly painful for these elderly individuals to distance themselves from the environment and social circle they built throughout their lives.

For all these reasons, unsettling older people is the best remedy. Perhaps better than any antidepressant. So, in this first month of 2024, try to call an older loved one by phone or take time (and not waste time) listening to what older people you work with want or have to say. Give them a stage. I call that: giving them a stage. Because then, perhaps in February 2024, it might just be too late, and the curtain closes never to reopen again.

I'll leave it at that for today. Thank you for being on the other side and helping me think.

I remind you that inEnglish is supporting this podcast with the full translation into English of what I say here. I'll leave the link in the description.

I’m counting on you in the next episode. Oh, by the way, in the next episode, I'll talk about the speech of older people today and where it stands. Until then.

I am Ricardo Crispim. Take care.

LINK TO ACCESS GERALDINE BOYLE'S ARTICLE: https://oro.open.ac.uk/40998