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escorted, strewn, exhaled, prescriptions sifted, prime, interjected, consequences capable, respect, stubborn, resilient bear, ample, collapsed, burden swiveled, on-call, floundered, temporary idle, sympathy, sheepishly, solace

Aging Affairs

Level 8 Unit 10 Lesson 7

Interview

Do you have a special memory with a grandparent?

Joke

One benefit of old age is that your secrets are safe with your friends.

They can’t remember them either!

Listening

What features do the rooms offer?

Grammar

Adjective Review

man-eating snake

cute but

than mine

much faster

faster to run

the worst thing

Adjective Review

weight-throwing woman

strong but

than her

a bit farther

Throwing is

athletes I know

Comparing

Reading

Prereading

What things do we need as we get older?

Stubborn Seniors

“Well, Orson, the tests aren’t looking good. We’re going to have to increase your blood pressure medication again. You will need to come back in two weeks so we can continue to monitor your heart. Your lungs have lost capacity and you really must stop smoking.” Doctor Beagrie gave the overweight, bad-tempered man sitting in front of him a serious look. The nurse appeared and escorted Orson to the pharmacy,

leaving the doctor with Carmen Joy, his granddaughter. "Carmen,” Doctor Beagrie sighed “I’d like you to take these papers I’ve collected to your parents. It is clear that it is no longer safe for your grandfather to be living alone. Tell them I am happy to discuss the different options whenever they’re ready.”

escorted

Carmen took the packet of papers, thanked Doctor Beagrie and shouted out, “Come on, Gramps, let’s go!” Carmen drove her grandfather to his home and helped him inside. There was a huge mess in the kitchen and the trash-strewn living room made Carmen sigh with disgust.

“I thought the social worker was coming over to cook your food and clean the kitchen,” Carmen turned to face her grandpa. “I fired her,” Orson muttered. “She was too nosy and she never stopped talking.”

strewn

“Well, Gramps, if you aren’t going to let someone come in and help you, you are going to have to clean this mess up yourself.” Orson sat down on the couch and turned the TV on. “You know I can’t stand up that long. Your mother will clean up when she comes over on Sunday.”

Carmen threw down her bag and exhaled loudly. “Don’t worry, Gramps, I’ll do it.” She stomped into the kitchen and began collecting the food-encrusted dishes. She had already missed her volleyball game because she had had to take Orson to the doctor, she might as well stay and clean.

exhale

At first Carmen hadn’t minded taking her heavy-smoking, mean-spirited grandpa to the doctor every once in a while while her parents were at work. But lately he had started having so many appointments that there was one almost every week.

Then he started needing to have prescriptions picked up, and help getting groceries, and he could no longer cook or clean for himself. It seemed like every day she was having to do something to help him. Carmen didn’t understand why he was still living alone in his house if he couldn’t actually do anything for himself.

prescriptions

Stubborn Seniors

Doctor Beagrie sat across from Deborah Joy, her father, and her husband and spoke very seriously. “It is my strong recommendation that Orson’s living situation is changed. He has a number of very concerning health problems, which will soon need round-the-clock care. His abilities to wash and dress and provide for his basic needs are diminishing.”

“You don’t have to talk about me like I am not here,” Orson butted in angrily. “I apologize Orson, but I want you to know how serious this is,” Doctor Beagrie started to continue, but Orson held up his hand. “So, you think, I am no longer capable of making my own decisions, then?”

capable

Deborah groaned because she had heard her father say the same thing many times before. This time, however, her husband nodded and agreed with Orson. “That’s fine, Orson. We want to respect your wishes. But we also want to make sure you are taken care of. You need to agree to having a nurse come to your house to help you.”

Doctor Beagrie thought carefully, “No, but I think you need to realize how your decisions are affecting other people; yourself included. It’s not safe for you to live alone anymore.” “I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, this time a bit louder than the first.” Orson turned to face his daughter. “I am not leaving my house. I’ve lived there for sixty years, and I plan to die there.”

respect

Doctor Beagrie was busy searching on his computer and suddenly turned the screen towards Orson. “Here is one you might like. She was a nurse in the army, so she knows how to deal with stubborn men. We’ll give her some strict orders about what to do and I’m sure she’ll follow them.

“I don’t want any more nosy but nice, noisy gals coming in and taking over my house,” Orson said gruffly. “They’re always moving everything around and telling me what to do. The last one kept hiding my cigarettes. I won't tolerate any rule-making busybody who wants to change me or my habits, either."

stubborn

Deborah Joy exchanged looks with the Doctor Beagrie and whispered, “Well, we can hope this one will work out.” Doctor Beagrie adjusted his glasses while he opened up the form to fill out to hire Georgina.

Deborah Joy read the information on the screen about the nurse, a board-certified nurse named Georgina. “She sounds perfect. She’s been a nurse for over forty years. I bet nothing can surprise her. I am certain that she will be much more resilient than the last nurse. Let’s give her a try, okay Dad?” Orson scowled, “It seems like I have no other choice. Just make sure she knows to leave me alone and we’ll get along fine.”

resilient

Connections

What kind of relationship does Orson have with Carmen and Deborah?

Do you have a difficult relationship with anyone in your life?

Connections

Does this story make you think of any other story you have read?

Connections

Have you heard any stories or news that are related to the themes in this story?

Vocabulary

Would you rather...

always have negative consequences

or be incapable of sympathy?

Game

start

Players

Use the dice!

Drag the game pieces

end

Practice

Question

I wonder

Maybe . . .

or

or

Extension

Present your letter!

Exit Interview

Do you think that sympathy or respect for a person is more important?

Thank You!

Goodbye!

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