Does it ever stop
?
The thought of senior citizens usually conjures up images of warmth, and wisdom, good humor, and mature friendships. You know, like this . . .
but according to famed “chick lit” author Jennifer Weiner (
Good in Bed,
In her Shoes) and her 99 year old Nanna, it was more like the geriatric version of this . . .
After Jennifer’s grandmother moved into a retirement home 18 months ago, she asked her Nanna if she made any new friends, only for Nanna to spill the tea about what was going on in the cafeteria
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“They won’t let me sit at their table!” Nanna cried.
“Wait, what? Who won’t let you sit at their table?”
“You try to sit and they say, ‘That seat is taken!’ ”
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Then, Nanna tried to join the bridge game only to promptly get shut down
. . .
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“And just try to get into a bridge game,” Nanna continued. “They’ll talk about bridge, and you’ll say, ‘Oh, I play,’ and they’ll tell you, ‘Sorry, we’re not looking for anyone.’ ”
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Quote:
“Mean girls!” I [Jennifer] said. “There are mean girls in your home!”
“It’s not a home,” Nanna said sharply.
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Oy vey! Yeah, I tried hard not to laugh (but didn't succeed). When looking from afar, the idea of a retirement home filled with would be Dowager Countesses seems like a real kii, but apparently this nursing home drama is real . . .
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A recent Cornell University study by Karl Pillemer proves the point, showing that aggression among residents in nursing homes is widespread and “extremely high rates of conflict and violence” are common. According to the study’s news release, one in five residents was involved in at least one “negative and aggressive encounter” with another resident during a four-week period.
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and in Jennifer's Nanna's case, the drama is ageist . . .
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When you get to be Nanna’s age, you’re reduced to a number — the younger the better. Even in a residence for the elderly, the 80-somethings will still be cold to the 95-year-olds. Now 99, my Nanna is completely cognizant of what’s going on. Her memory, both short- and long-term, is excellent. But once her new neighbors heard her age, they knew they didn’t want her at their table.
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It just never ends
. . .
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