REFLECTIONS: The Energizers
by Teresita Bacani-Oropilla, MD
What brings joy and worry to people who think they have lived their lives? Who revives memories of the past and ways of doing things? Who rekindles the embers of hope for a bright future? Who, when they need help, awakens a corps of retirees who think that working days are over?
Grandchildren and great grandchildren, yes that they do!
One must have married young to have these precious people. Or one must have survived the rigors of life, and lived in a place and time which allowed one to do so. That time is now, but probably not then.
Nearing her 100th birthday in a nursing home was H. O. She had been a dynamic physician, opening psychiatric children’ s inpatient facilities, starting the idea of group homes when they were discharged, thus saving them from a miserable tainted future. Unfortunately, she never had children nor grandchildren because her husband died of tuberculosis at an early age. Why and how? At that time, he was not included in the groups that were testing“ isoniazid” later found to be effective in ameliorating the disease.
Sad that details such as timing can affect people’ s lives! Dear H. O. thus had only 13 unrelated people at her funeral – no children, no grandchildren. But that was“ then.” Today is“ now!”
In a modern nursing home in this good U. S. live a coterie of privileged and“ can afford” elderly people. They are visited by children, friends, caretakers and the“ apples of their eyes” grandchildren and great grandchildren! These latter represent the successes, the near misses, the resemblances of beloved people in their lives. An extension of themselves? Maybe!
Apart from these sheltered and settled groups are many who are out there. Despite their similar mental or physical deficiencies as the above groups, they are still needed to help with their youngest issues – babysit, watch over, feed and relied upon to keep the latter safe!
In retrospect, both groups’ usefulness in this modern world are reawakened and extended.
Is this a good thing? Energizers, anyone?
Dr. Bacani-Oropilla is a retired pediatrician and psychiatrist.
November 2025 33