casimirpulaskiday:

Quit my job volunteering at the retirement home. It was making me too sad; I had begun to dread it. There were times when I really enjoyed it, but it killed me to see so many people unhappy in one place. One of the residents told me that “nothing [was] interesting anymore”. One of them started…

I have been volunteering at a nursing home since I was 14, and I know exactly how you feel. Unfortunately, I don’t think very many kids our age do. I mean, not very many have seen the lives of the old, disabled and frail. And I don’t mean those words in any kind of derogatory way, obviously. 

Anyway, I also wanted to say that I’m sorry it overwhelmed you, but you have to understand what a difference your presence makes. There are residents who will not be able to find comfort anywhere, this is true. But sometimes you will be surprised how much seeing a young person can brighten their day. Just being able to speak to a young person who has a busy life and new things to say, that means so much. I don’t know how long you’ve been at it, but if you keep at it, I think you’ll see the rewarding bits as well as the sad. 

Maybe you could bring some books, and offer to read to them (loud and clear, haha). A lot of times they can’t follow the story, but they really like to listen. They also love local newspapers. My point is you don’t have to understand, or know what to say. All they need is something to take their mind off their troubles; sometimes all that’s left is bad thoughts until you show them something better.