Just one pair of shoes: A Labor Day tribute.

Labor Day just passed. When I was young, it was just another Monday holiday that gave me a reason to over eat, spend time with family and friends and not go to work or school.  I really didn’t understand the meaning behind the holiday; I just enjoyed it. It wasn’t until I became a home care nurse that I truly understood the significance of this national holiday.  My learning didn’t come from a class, article, or even website, it came from the elderly patients who shared their stories with me about hard work, sacrifice and honor.  It was while sitting at their kitchen tables and in their living rooms that I learned to appreciate and respect the people, now elderly, that created the convenient life many of us have in this country.

Their stories about sacrifice, going without, and appreciating even the smallest conveniences humbled me as I listened. One gentleman told me how he and his brothers took turns going to school because they only owned one pair of shoes. They would take turns wearing the shoes, albeit ill fitting for some, but never complained. Instead, they were excited when it was their turn. I stood in front of my closet that evening and counted the number of shoes I had – 23. How very different my life was from theirs.

Another patient told me how she would go without food just to make sure her kids were fed. To keep food on the table, she would darn socks, iron society women’s dresses and even wash their panties and “rags” when their cycle was finished. Now, we see food thrown away in the United States as casually as throwing away a used tissue.

The fast paced world that we live in now doesn’t always recognize and appreciate the hard work and sacrifice of years ago. We don’t always respect the elderly the way we may have respected them as hardworking, young men and women. This is why we should all demonstrate our respect and give honor and thanks to the human beings that have done their time in the workforce and are now attempting to enjoy their retirement years. We need to respect them for the sacrifices they’ve made, and protect them, as they grow older and less agile than before.

Advocating for our hard working elderly starts with respect and ends with doing everything we can to support and protect them as they age.  To show our appreciation, consider the following:

·       Protect their environment

     Make sure their physical environment is safe; remove throw rugs, extra clutter, ensure good lightening, etc. By doing a surveillance of their environment, you can identify potential dangers and help to protect them from injury and harm.

·       Protect their health

     Unfortunately, during the time of their lives when they should be enjoying their retirement, many elderly are faced with chronic illnesses.  Understanding and managing these illnesses can be overwhelming to some people.  At times, supporting their health through advocacy can provide the necessary guidance they need to protect their health.

·       Protect their dignity

     We can learn a great deal from the people who have already experienced so much in life. Spend time with them. Ask them to share their stories. There are so many lessons to learn from them if you spend the time and listen.

We owe them a great deal of gratitude for their hard work, giving us a “Labor Day” to celebrate. Through their blood, sweat and tears, we all have opportunities to work, grow, love and not only own more than 1 pair of shoes, but share them with others in need.

Take care

R. Thompson, MSN, RN