AGING ICON

Herman’s Story: Why Seniors Need Advocates

When I first began volunteering in Florida as a SHINE Representative and helping older adults understand Medicare and health insurance, I met countless people navigating the maze of aging alone. One story in particular still stays with me: Herman’s.

A Sister’s Worry

Herman’s sister, Trudy, came regularly to my Medicare classes. Active and engaged, she was deeply concerned about her brother, who had stopped leaving his apartment. He wasn’t sick in the traditional sense, but he had given up on daily life.

When I finally met Herman, it became clear that what he lacked wasn’t the ability to get up, it was the motivation. His words were simple: “If I had someplace to go, I would get up.”

A System That Missed the Signs

Soon after, Herman ended up in the hospital following a fall. What should have been a chance to recover turned into a nightmare. Nurses misinterpreted his dry humor as confusion, missed the fact that he had a broken leg, and restrained him unnecessarily.

This is where advocacy becomes essential. Without someone to explain his personality, history, and “baseline,” Herman was seen as another disoriented patient rather than the vibrant man he truly was.

Seeing the Whole Person

As I learned more about Herman, I discovered a full life. He was a German immigrant who served in the U.S. Army, rose to leadership in his union, and lived with energy and joy. Knowing this helped me push for care that matched who he really was, not just what was convenient for the system.

It also reminded me how easily older adults can be taken advantage of, whether through medical neglect or even predatory sales practices, like the cousin who unknowingly signed up for multiple phone contracts. Advocacy is often about fighting battles on multiple fronts.

Finding Dignity at the End

Ultimately, Herman could not return to his apartment. But because of his military service, he qualified for a nearby Veterans’ nursing home. It was the right place,  compassionate, social, and respectful. There, he built friendships and received extraordinary hospice care when his health declined. He passed peacefully, honored for his service, and surrounded by dignity.

The Lessons Herman Leaves Behind

Herman’s story is not just about one man. It reveals what so many older adults face:

• Purpose matters. Often, seniors don’t lose the will to live—they lose reasons to get out of bed.
• Systems fail. Without an advocate, oversights and misunderstandings can strip away dignity.
• The whole person counts. Understanding someone’s history and baseline changes how we interpret their needs.
• Advocacy protects. From healthcare to financial exploitation, seniors need someone to stand beside them.

Herman’s journey affirmed why Aging Icons exists. Advocacy ensures that people are seen, heard, and respected in every stage of aging. Seniors are more than patients or statistics, they are veterans, immigrants, parents, workers, dreamers.

And like Herman, they deserve to age with dignity, community, and compassion.

September 8, 2025 Posted by Aging Icon | Uncategorized | Family, health, healthcare system, life, Medicare, mental health, seniors, writing | Leave a comment