Unlocking Wisdom: Reflecting on Conversations with a Senior

On February 10th, when going into the memory care facility, I sat down to talk to this very sweet senior. I introduced myself and started a conversation with her. She asked me if I did any activities outside of school and I said that I played the piano and guitar. Her eyes lit up and she began to talk about how she used to play the piano as well. She smiled and tapped her fingers on the table as if she was playing the piano.

Today, I went into the memory care facility again. I went to greet the same lady that I talked to about piano last week. She asked me who I was didn't seem to remember me, and so I introduced myself, and she brought up the same topic of instruments. I had a similar conversation with her as I did last week. This made me connect the dots to realize that she has dementia: a condition in which memory and cognitive functions are affected.

This experience made me feel sympathetic for seniors who experience the effects of dementia. Dementia is a health condition that affects the cognitive abilities and limits the capability of the brain to retain memories. The prominence of this condition is increasing greatly in the senior population. It can cause seniors to forget family members, close friends, and important experiences. It is crucial to find lifestyle choices that can limit such conditions from forming, so that seniors can experience their lifetime with great memories they can recollect. I want to enter healthcare because I want to make a meaningful difference on human lives. This would give the feelings of satisfaction that I contributed to bettering the lives of others.