**SEC17 WK:#5: caring for aged and dependent relatives in the family**

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“Aging is not 'lost youth' but a new stage of opportunity and strength, it has a wonderful beauty, and we should have respect for that.”

Aging is a gradual, continuous process of natural change that begins in early adulthood. Many bodily functions begin to decline during early aging. There is no specific age for being elderly or older.

But traditionally, age 65 has been set out as the normal age bracket for aging, but this reason is based on history because many years ago, 65 years was chosen as the retirement age in Germany, hence the adoption of the age 65.

I have had several occasions where elderly people were brought under my care. My aunty was the first-aged mother I took care of years ago. It happened that I was the only person in my family to run the errands.

I traveled to her home to stay with her because she needed someone to stay with, and it was not proper to bring in a total stranger to stay with her. I loved taking care of the elderly and babies; it gives me so much joy.

It was all of my duty to bathe her, wash her clothes, cook and feed her, and run some other errands. It was a whole lot for me because I was all alone with her. My aunt was so demanding at her old age, and she nags a lot unnecessarily, which is why no one except me was available to stay with her.

It is said that at old age, people behave like babies. This is so true because I saw it all played out while at my aunt's. She would wake up from sleep and call on me to start preparing her breakfast because she eats so early. After breakfast, she takes a bath and then relaxes. But one thing about her is that she should not see you as ideal. She expects anyone around her to be busy.

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Taking care of her was something I did joyfully because I already knew how these old people behaved and was well informed. I did all my work joyfully; I wasn't paid for anything, but I felt taking care of her was just like taking care of my mom, so I had nothing to worry about.

My aunt, even in her old age, was a strong and independent woman, until she was struck by an accident that almost paralyzed her. It was all the situation that made me go stay with her, and she's diabetic, so the injuries didn't heal so fast. It took a very long time, so I had to go stay with her.

Each time I would go to the market, she would give me time and expect to see me back by that time; otherwise, she would nag all through the day. All I do is keep to her terms and conditions, and we are good. Since it was a passion for me to take care of the elderly, I didn't feel her bad energy.

The moment I enjoyed most was our story time. She tells stories so well and gives advice after each story. During bedtime, we prayed before the story so that anyone who feels sleepy could just go to bed, and every morning, we prayed before starting the day.

After some months with her, I traveled back to my location, and a few weeks later, I heard she was very sick and brought down to a nearby state. I hadn't had the opportunity to go visit, but my family members—about 5 of them—went visiting, and 3 stayed with her at the hospital.

But it was so unfortunate that, a few weeks later, we lost her. At 75, she wasn't so old, but she wasn't young either. We'd thought we would share the Easter season together before she passed away.

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I cried so bitterly because if I had stayed longer, she wouldn't have died at that time. But I left, and she died. I miss her, though. She's fun to be with if only you can endure her nagging.

I have also cared for an aged uncle who was so dependent on me because due to illness. I would say that I am always the one it falls on whenever anyone is ill in my family.

My aged uncle fell ill in the northern part of Nigeria and he was flew down to the east where he can be taken care of because his wife is a career woman and had no time to do all of that. I was in the position to take care of him.

This sickness held him down to the extent that he couldn't feed himself, tak his bath or even move around. He was always at a place. Every morning, I wake up, prepare his meal and feed him, bath him and cloth him. It was not easy on me at this time but I was comfortable doing it.

I stayed with him until he was fully recovered from that illness which was after some months. It was a moment of joy and relieve the very day he walked around without help. I knew my time with him was almost over.

Let me invite @mariami @chant @eliany to participate in this contest.