Old habits die hard
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (366617)
Rockingham, Australia
December 4, 2025 9:23pm CST
We recently had visitors from Bavaria stay with us for a few days. We stayed with them when we were overseas and her elderly mother gave us the most marvellous walking tour of her town.
Her mother has been living alone for some 30 years and only recently has had to move in with a son. She had a period of respite in an aged care facility. Most of the residents there had some form of dementia. The staff were anxious to get her mother to have her meals with the other residents and ‘socialise’ with them.
Her daughter advocated for her saying that she’d eaten alone for a very long time and didn’t particularly want to converse with others at mealtimes, particularly when most had some form of impairment. I hadn’t thought about such things before but I can understand that the old lady might prefer to eat alone.
The photo was taken in a Bavarian church that we were taken to.
11 people like this
11 responses
@marguicha (229540)
• Chile
16h
I´m thinking about moving to a senior facility. What bothers me is the other people there. Most of my friends are much younger than myself and all of them are more intelligent than the media.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (366617)
• Rockingham, Australia
11h
I guess it depends on the facility as to how easy it is to maintain some degree of indepenedence from the others there.
@DaddyEvil (162955)
• United States
15h
I'm glad her daughter stepped up for her. Some people prefer to eat alone and are more comfortable not socializing with people they don't know.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (162955)
• United States
11h
@JudyEv When I worked at Walmart, I was tired of talking to people when it was time for my breaks and lunch, so I'd take my lunch to a corner of the room and read while I ate. After a while, people stopped trying to talk to me in there. 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (366617)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
@DaddyEvil I'd feel much the same. Too much talking drains my energy.
1 person likes this
@LooeyVille (63)
• United States
15h
I'm sure my mother in law, newly diagnosed with dementia, will say she doesn't want to live in Memory Care with "those drooling old people"
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (40524)
• Philippines
17h
It is a very beautiful church, and its design appears to be more in line with traditional Catholic architecture, reminiscent of the way older churches were constructed. It is unfortunate that the mother was more introverted, but for someone with a similar personality, it is understandable why she might choose to remain behind, preferring solitude over being in a crowd. Additionally, considering that she seems to have some form of dementia, it is important to respect her preference for minimal interaction, as social engagement may not be beneficial for her condition and could cause discomfort, making her inclination to stay in her own space a reasonable choice.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (366617)
• Rockingham, Australia
11h
She didn't have dementia but just about all the other residents were affected to a greater or lesser degree. She now lives with her son as she is well into her 90s.
@RebeccasFarm (90883)
• Arvada, Colorado
1h
That church is astounding Judy!
Yes the lady I understand.
@wolfgirl569 (125916)
• Marion, Ohio
6h
After living alone for all that time I understand wanting to be alone
@Marilynda1225 (87260)
• United States
4h
It's funny that you mentioned that because my mom was alone for so many years that she had a preference for eating alone too. She would join us for a family dinner etc but when it was just her and me living together she liked to eat in her room and watch tv.
What a beautiful church
@LindaOHio (207541)
• United States
24m
This is going to sound very selfish; but I don't care, for the most part, associating with people my age that act "old". Mainly because my mind is still sharp, even though my body is falling apart. lol I'm not ready to leave my home and move into a senior facility as so many here would like me to do.
