Interviews with old people

Interviews with old people

I typically come in contact with very few old people. My last living grandparent – my father’s mother – passed away two or so years ago, and until then, was really the only old person I ever spoke to. However, she had a friend there that my parents were relatively close with. Her name is Sylvia Levey and she is spry for a 90-year-old. She was the only old person I could think of… so I called her for the interview.

~Q&A was as follows. Answer’s are not word by word accurate~
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Q: How independent would you say you are? Do you live on your own/do you have any kind of extra help?

A: There is a nice black girl who lives with me in my apartment. She cooks and cleans for me.

Q: Do you take medication?

A: (I’m pretty sure she takes a bunch of pills.) Oh yes. I am arthritic and I take pills to help. I take vitamins as well.

Q: Of your medical expenses, how much is covered by insurance?

A: (She said that she paid for her all her meds.)

Q: How much money would you be willing to spend on large medical expenses?

A: I am lucky. I have money to spend on the things I need.

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The conversation was short and sweet. We spoke for a short while. Her life doesn't seem very interesting in my eyes. She is not very physically active. Typically she gets a wheelchair ride to a salon to get her hair done once a week and spends the rest of her time sleeping, eating, bathing etc. with the help of her aid lady, and watching TV. Most of her friends are dead. Infrequent visits from relatives. She was happy to talk to me, but got tired and her helper-aid-person-lady-girl got on the phone and let me know that she had to go. Though she was sweet, her old was showing.