The young, helpful attendant bent to pull the patient’s hands from their folded position, bringing them together in a clapping motion. The elderly woman began following the younger woman’s motions as she was encouraged to clap along during the spirited song.
We were at the nursing home this morning where I was assisting my husband in a small, informal service. Half a dozen elderly were assembled in their wheel chairs or sitting on the seat of their walkers, most with hard-to-read expressions, but some mouthing the words of the songs, or at least smiling tentatively.
The now-clapping patient had participated more than the others, singing along intermittently with her high, tremulous voice. I could tell she knew at least parts of most of the songs. “You are singing great!” Howard encouraged them, although mostly referring to her.
“She can yodel, too!” the aide offered brightly, to which the patient emitted two or three little musical orbs through lips pursed in an “O”. “Do some more!” the aide urged her. Suddenly she was a songbird, chin thrust high as the warbling notes of the yodel gurgled out like bubbles from a pie bird.
When one man was wheeled in, we were instructed, “He can’t talk, but he understands everything.” Even though he was twisted in his chair, obviously a stroke victim, he kept his eyes fastened on Howard as we sang. I think I remember him from former services when he participated in singing all the songs, paying careful attention to the words of the hymns printed in the loose-leaf binder.
Half an hour went fast, with my husband interspersing songs with scripture and spiritual applications, and soon our time was up. As we clasped each hand on the way out, I heard one lady say something to my husband. Later, he told me she had said, “My husband had a shirt just like that,” nodding toward the long-sleeve blue dress shirt he wore. A poignant and revealing reminder that these precious elderly have lived meaningful lives filled with people dear to them who now exist mostly in memory. It is joy to be part of their present.
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