Working With Older People (1977)

[Music] as you enter the Senior Citizens center office. The secretary, Mrs. Brownley, greet you. Just a minute, please. Senior citizen center. Yes, Mr. Allison. What was that? Speak a little more slow. Huh? Have you tried to talk with him about it? Yes. Well, I think you've done everything you can. What? He said what? Mhm. I see. I understand. Look, Mr. Allison, I'm really busy now. Talk to you about this later. Yes. Pardon? Oh, yes. if I understand what you're going through. I'm sorry, but I really have to go. Okay. Yes, Mr. Allison. I really have to hang up now. Goodbye. Are those reservations ready yet? No, I'm afraid not. I'll bring them back to you in a few minutes. Okay. That was Mr. Allison on the phone. His calls are what I wanted to talk to you about. I don't know what I'm going to do. He calls me about once an hour about something. Usually, it's nothing important. I know he just needs attention. He's so lonely since his wife passed away. You know, she's the one who had a heart attack last month. I understand his loneliness, but I have my job to do. How can I get my work done when he's constantly calling me? Ruth wanted those reservation sheets just now, and they would have been ready if Mr. Allison hadn't called three times already this morning. What can I do? [Applause] Oh, I got to return some [Music] Medicaid. [Music] Oh, Medicaid says my income is too high. I can't believe it. I can't pay my bills. And I have to spend so much for medicine each month. And you know how I watch my [Music] money. I spend every penny carefully to make it go as far as possible. But there just isn't enough [Music] money. Oh yes, the food stamps help. But what I really need is some help of my payment of my medicine. How can I afford my prescription every month? I just can't believe they've refused me. I felt sure when you help me make out the form that I'd really get some help. I've got to have the medicine. That's all there is to it. The doctor says I have to have it. I have to have that medication. Maybe if I were married and I could fill out that other form, show them a different way of my income. That would be better. You know, they're just against us single people. All there is to it. Today you were visiting Mrs. White for the first time. She was referred to you as a possible client by her pastor. He thought she might need some of the community services with which you have contact. Yes. If you've come to take me to that nursing home, you can just forget it. I told my son I wasn't going to go to any nursing home. Not as long as I had the strength God gave me. My son said I had to go to the nursing home because of my arthritis and and my spells. But I'm not going. people just go there and die, but I'm not ready to give up yet. I don't want to go and live among a lot of old dying people. Oh, it may not be easy for me living here alone. But I'm not going to give it up to go to any nursing home. You You can just tell my son I'm not going. Today you are visiting the nutrition site in your community where older people gather for meals. This is a fairly new site, so you try to drop in for lunch two or three times a week to see how things are going. Eggy, my sister visited me last night. You should have seen her beautiful dress. a kind of blueprint. Agatha, are you gonna sign up for crafts this afternoon? No. Oh, you're you're going to miss a good one. Francis brought in some new material for the quilt. And I just love to work on the quilt. Don't you? Don't you? This is Agatha Bentley's birthday and we have a cake. Now, let's sing happy birthday to Agatha. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, [Music] dear. Happy birthday to you. No hopes. I don't feel too bad from surgery. Can you stay a few minutes? Have a seat. The pain is nearly all gone now. I feel so helpless sitting here. I'm not used to having people wait on me. Only I could get out and walk around. I'd like to do things for myself. Come in. Hi. Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you had company. This is Chris Williams from the office on aging. Chris, this is Anna Glenco, one of my neighbors. How do you do? I was just going by and thought I'd come to see what you wanted. I'm on my way to the grocery. Oh, some bread, I guess, and maybe some tomato juice. Fine. You can pay me later. Nice meeting you, Chris. Bye. It's nice of Anna to come by and offer to pick things up for me at the grocery. I don't know what I do without friends like her and you. I don't know how I can stand just sitting here months on end. There's nothing for me to do. I call them, but they don't have a van available. They don't have a van with a lift or a ramp. They've called all over the county, but there just is not a van available. I don't know what to do. Sometimes I feel like giving up.