Retiring Retirement

from Capital District FAMILY NOW - August 2022 Parents Children & Senior Citizens

Retiring Retirement It takes a little longer to do good

Eighty-eight year old Ellen Hartmann says that she still does a lot of things but, “They just all take a little longer.”

And yet, if every person were to give of herself like this retiree, the world would be longer on service.

One of the highlights of her week is her work as a volunteer at her church’s adult day care program, where a half dozen seniors with dementia get her full attention along with that of her pug, Little Girl – an elder herself at 112 in doggie-years.

“She’s our mascot,” Hartmann says. “She’s blind and deaf, but she still comes with me. If a senior is irritable or wants to get up and walk away, we bring Little Girl to them and she calms them right down.”

The adult day care atmosphere is so welcoming that many caregivers abandon invaluable respite that could be spent running errands or relaxing in favor of staying and spending time at the church with their loved ones. People of all faiths attend.

“The first hour is a bible study, then arts and crafts, then chair dance, lunch, and, when the kids come in the afternoon we play games, hit balls and things like that. They literally have a ball. It’s fun,” she says. Hartmann’s lovable pug isn’t the only one who gravitates toward the seniors. The church also sponsors by a pre-K day care, and it’s a natural marriage to occaRobert sionally bring the children and elders together. LaCosta “The 3- and 4-yearolds come over and play children’s Bingo and they will do arts and crafts together,” she says. “When old people have a birthday, the kids come in and sing, ‘Happy Birthday.’ You should see the seniors’ faces light up. But before the little ones go home, they insist on petting Little Girl.” Her involvement with her church never waned during the pandemic. She went every week and listened to her pastor from her car in the church parking lot as he preached from an outdoor stage. “His sermons were broadcast into our Ellen Hartmann volunteers at an adult day care at her church where the pre-K students will come by to sing Happy Birthday to their elders.

car radios,” she said. “Even during the winter, we went. Of course, they had loudspeakers if you wanted to roll down your windows. Our congregation grew during COVID because we could be trusted.”

Besides her active lifestyle, Hartmann is always stretching herself … literally. Her yoga-in-the-park classes are a twice-weekly priority, and it helps with her line dancing because that requires her to be limber enough for the Latin, tango and other surprise selections that her instructor throws at the class.

Her fitness also allows her to tackle her 2-acre grass-cutting on her riding mower.

“My son and kids helps me with the house, though,” she concedes.

And it’s not all-work-and-no-play, as she gets a lot of playtime in with her many great-grandchildren.

“We don’t have iPad’s when they are here,” she said. “We play.”

She discourages a life that revolves solely around a computer – and not just for kids.

“Some seniors sit around on their computers all day and don’t get out,” she said.

Such a sedentary life is not for her. Her downtime is more likely to involved knitting hats, sweaters, blankets and whatever anyone needs.

“You’ve got to get out there,” she advises fellow seniors. “There’s a lot to do and many people to serve and be friendly towards.”

Whether it’s the community or her family or friends, most people reap the rewards of her love and service and never even notice that everything “just takes a little longer.”

“Portals to Heaven” is Robert J. LaCosta’s free daily devotional. Get it every weekday morning in your email by writing norepcom@gmail.com.

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