Dorking Friends share stories of the third age
Nine Friends share experiences
Nine Dorking Friends met on 4 November to share their experiences of growing older and to discuss how best to adjust to it.
Rachel Hope, one of the organisers, told the Friend that the informal gathering was prompted by a discussion between two Friends over tea after Meeting for Worship.
She said the talk ranged widely, covering everything from the need to save energy and pace oneself to practical issues, such as carrying a note of necessary medication and contact details for a doctor and a next of kin.
Rachel explained: ‘we spoke of the ongoing responsibility for other people, such as a partner who was ill or lively grandchildren to care for. We spoke of our fears for ourselves and for the future, particularly physical deterioration and dementia.’
The Friends involved also discussed how the Meeting house – which was built in 1846 – might be made more user-friendly for older people.
Suggestions included improving the seating and finding a way to make it easier for the hard of hearing to be able to participate more fully.
The conversation then ‘deepened to another level’, Rachel concluded, with a Friend reading a poem, which she had recently written.
