The Human Touch

As I think back on the past 2 weeks at my new job, I think about the people I have seen. Some are pretty
much all alone and see no one else except their in-home aid for weeks and weeks at a time. Others see
family members daily or at least weekly.
Still others spend a lot of time on the phone connected to loved ones.
I wonder if those family members that call regularly but visit rarely think they are doing enough for their loved
one.
"We have called Mom/Dad and they are having their needs met. Someone is doing their housework, cooking, personal needs. We have fulfilled our duty as their child." Are they though? What about companionship, face to face communication? Yes their are some that visit daily or at least several times a week. And that is wonderful. They get to have their independence and still share a touch. It is that touching that gives me cause to ponder.
I am a hugger. I crave the human touch. It gives me connection. I make a point of touching people when I see them, whether it is a hug to the appropriate person, or just a touch of the hand, arm or back. But to me it is my way of saying your are important enough for human contact. Your life has touched me and in return I will touch you.
It makes me think how much I miss the touch of my children and grandchildren. I usually have some kind of contact with at least one of them everyday. Via phone, text, email, facebook. It helps, but it still lacks that closeness that I crave. I understand that that is the way life is. I didn't know it was going to be like that when I was raising my kids. I thought we would always be together. I'm sure the people I serve thought the same thing. So for all intents and purposes they are still alone. It is sad to think about.
I think about how will it be when I can no longer do everything for myself. I know I would like to have some independence but I don't think I want to be alone. I don't want to burden my children by asking them to let me live with them, but then again, I don't want to just be a duty to be taken care of. When a person has been the caregiver for most of their lives how do they stop? How do they humble themselves to let a stranger help them bathe? My heart just aches for these lovely lonely people. I try to treat them with as much respect and compassion as I can. But I can never replace their family.