Last week I was catering and being reminded of my past

Several years ago I worked as a care coordinator in a large care facility for the elderly. I loved the job. I loved the residents. I worked at making the facility the best it could be with the philosophy that one never knows when such a place may be required personally!
I remember walking around the place looking at the residents and wondering who they had been in an earlier life, and making sure I avoided the attitude that they are just old folks. All old folks have a history and that history is usually interesting and often amusing. One day I want to grow up to be an old person!
I wonder what makes us take on the 'old person' attitude. Is it poor health, expectation or is it that when one reaches a certain age there is nothing left to look forward to?
I looked at the age group of 20-40. They are developing their careers and families, they are vital and energetic. The 40 - 60 age group settle into a more comfortable lifestyle. They are looking toward retiring, their families are grown & leaving home, they seem less vital and energetic. The 60-80 age group is becoming tired, they have grandchildren and their focus is more about their health and well being. They have less energy. This obviously is a very broad generalization as there are those who do not fit into the bands I have outlined - and I hope I would be one of them. But my point is that many of us assume that we will need a care facility in our later years and our lives travel along that route, and the bus will stop & we will get on it and it will take us to the Home.
Care homes do tend to have a stigma that I for one plan never to get there. How does one down size their home that they have built up, had their children and lives?And then have to leave that home as health dictates that living there is no longer possible? Some care facilities do not allow personal furnishings in with you. How could anyone continue to be happy?
These questions all surfaced in my head last week as I catered a 3 day class about elder care, and all my thoughts and beliefs returned. I was the 'kitchen staff', but few knew my history, and listening to the classes brought my past memories back. Hearing a poem about an elderly resident who was becoming silent in her care, but wanted her carers to know that she too had a life and it was a wonderful one and now here she was receiving care. So many of the issues that came up 'through the wall' as I was making coffee or washing up brought a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye as I considered how harsh it can be for elders who have to go 'into care'.
I hope one day I'll be an 'old person' - that is many years away - but it is only a heart beat away in reality. as my journey moves me there, I intend to blow apart my age band theories and live a lively, happy and fulfilling life. My thoughts will be with our elders who require the care in homes, and hope their home is a happy one!