‘This elderly man needed pain meds for his wife. ‘It’s in aisle 6.’ He struggled to navigate the supermarket.’: Woman helps elderly man in simple act of kindness when no one else would

“Twice this week, I have watched an elderly individual, fade into the busy life in which we all live. One man just needed pain medicine for his wife, but the shop assistant simply said, ‘It’s in aisle 6.’ But he struggled to navigate the supermarket and as I watched him go in the wrong direction, I left all my groceries and took him where he needed to go.

Today, I watched an elderly man struggle in the heat, who had obviously had a fall with a huge scrape and blood on his leg. He walked past people in the cafe, while he slowly made his way to his car. Not one person stopped. Or looked. Or acknowledged him.

I took him to his car and checked he was ok. He told me he had a fall and wasn’t sure how the air conditioner worked in his car, so he just didn’t use it. I sat with him, until his air conditioner kicked in and heard him talk about the old frail body that he is in, that fails him now, every single day. 

When you see an elderly person walking down the street, searching in the supermarket or struggling to their car, take a minute out of your busy schedule and ask them if they need a hand. Think about your grandparents and your parents and how pissed you would be if someone didn’t stop to help them. But more, think of them as you. 

Once upon a time they were you. They were busy, they had work, they had children, they were able….

Today, they are just in an older body that is not going as fast as it used to, and this busy life is confusing. They deserve our utmost respect and consideration. One day it will be you, it will be us. I wish more people gave a crap about them and acknowledged them for their admirable existence, and geez, I hope someday, not that far away, someone does it for me.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Adele Barbaro- The Real Mumma. Follow Adele on Instagram here. The post originally appeared here. Do you have a similar experience? We’d like to hear your important journey. Submit your own story here. Be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.

Read more powerful stories of simple acts of kindness:

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