A long life is something that many people hope for, but in the modern era, with such a huge population, we have a surplus of seniors. Grandfathers, grandmothers, great aunts and great uncles everywhere… and not all of them live happy lives. Take an example of Mary, a ninety-eight old lady who allowed cameras to follow her around for a day to experience a day in her mild life.
Most of this kindly, adorable old woman’s days are spent collecting and sorting junk mail, which she then shreds it into little bits and packs for garbage collection. Without her family around and most of her friends gone, she spends most of her time alone shredding paper. Who does this old woman belong to? Why isn’t her family calling her, or visiting? Just write her a letter dammit! She is so lonely!
The filmmakers also took their time to spend a day in a nursing home for the elderly where Mary gets her one and only chance to interact with her fellow inmates- I mean “residents”. They usually dance and do other physical routines and then some play some video games or watch a movie. That is the the peak of Mary’s day.
Life for the seniors in nursing homes can be extremely challenging. especially when your loved ones seem to have forgotten you exist… It’s sad but a lot of people don’t know what to do with their elderly family, and are forced to leave them in the care of a nursing home. Which is fine. But some then don’t think they need outside interaction or family contact. And that certainly isn’t the case.