Narrative Essay (586 words)
Topic: “Our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the
young or be deserted by them, for the test of civilization is the way that it
cares for its helpless members”.
Setting: Average nursing home. Low living standards.
Plot: Elderly woman, in a wheelchair, sitting in a nursing home thinking of how she
has been deserted by her own children and what she has done to deserve this.
Character: Elderly woman with a young mind. Sad and angry mother. Lonely and depressed.
Wheelchair bound. Woman with high standards that are not being met. Writer.
Loves to read sci-fi novels. Raised children with integrity and doesn’t understand
why they left her. Hates nursing home.
“Our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be
deserted by them, for the test of civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members”.
Do my wrinkles and my grey hair make me unworthy? Have they forgotten about me because
I’m no longer young and beautiful? Although my appearance has changed, my personality
hasn’t, my mind hasn’t either, but do they realize that? Do they realize that even though my
body has grown feeble, I can still listen to stories and I can still give advice? My mind hasn’t
deteriorated. My body may be weak, but my soul stays strong.
Here I am. Stuck. They abandoned me in this hellhole, or as they call it, a “nursing home”. I’ve
taken care of them for years, fed them, took them to school, took them to church and gave
them warm, comfortable beds in individual rooms. And here I am, forsaken by my own children,
sharing a room with three other deserted elderly women. Uncomfortable beds, plain linen, sad
and unadorned white walls and the only church service we can attend is on the TV… This place
is inhumane. I am not even allowed to make my own food or control my own medication. I am
not a child! I am a sensible and mentally capable woman with minimal physical challenges.
Page 1 of 2
Topic: “Our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the
young or be deserted by them, for the test of civilization is the way that it
cares for its helpless members”.
Setting: Average nursing home. Low living standards.
Plot: Elderly woman, in a wheelchair, sitting in a nursing home thinking of how she
has been deserted by her own children and what she has done to deserve this.
Character: Elderly woman with a young mind. Sad and angry mother. Lonely and depressed.
Wheelchair bound. Woman with high standards that are not being met. Writer.
Loves to read sci-fi novels. Raised children with integrity and doesn’t understand
why they left her. Hates nursing home.
“Our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be
deserted by them, for the test of civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members”.
Do my wrinkles and my grey hair make me unworthy? Have they forgotten about me because
I’m no longer young and beautiful? Although my appearance has changed, my personality
hasn’t, my mind hasn’t either, but do they realize that? Do they realize that even though my
body has grown feeble, I can still listen to stories and I can still give advice? My mind hasn’t
deteriorated. My body may be weak, but my soul stays strong.
Here I am. Stuck. They abandoned me in this hellhole, or as they call it, a “nursing home”. I’ve
taken care of them for years, fed them, took them to school, took them to church and gave
them warm, comfortable beds in individual rooms. And here I am, forsaken by my own children,
sharing a room with three other deserted elderly women. Uncomfortable beds, plain linen, sad
and unadorned white walls and the only church service we can attend is on the TV… This place
is inhumane. I am not even allowed to make my own food or control my own medication. I am
not a child! I am a sensible and mentally capable woman with minimal physical challenges.
Page 1 of 2
