My week of getting old: Karel, 23, Czech Republic

I'm spending the week living with my grandmother, Jaroslava, who is 70. I used to life with her until I was ten and we spent a lot of time together in those days. Although we now live apart, both my brother Adam and I still see our grandmother a lot.

She gets up at 7.00am every day, because she needs to take her pills and insulin which she does four times a day. One day, when I had an early shift at the hotel I work in, we both got up at 5.00am and my grandmother made a packed lunch for me so I wouldn't get hungry.  

While I was working, my grandmother would organise her work files from the local organisation for disabled people that she helps. Last year I helped her organise a holiday in Italy for a group of disabled people.

Sharing our family history

We spent a lot of the evenings this week talking about our family history. One day, Adam came to visit and grandmother showed us photos of when we were young. She really enjoys looking through old photos.

I asked her about what she's learnt in her life and what things she used to enjoy doing. "Being independent and making decisions by myself," she answered. She also told us that her job caring for others was her biggest satisfaction and her favourite activity when she was younger was dancing.

On Thursday we visited the cemetery where some of our family members are buried. We needed to get a new decoration for the grave before Easter to replace the old one from Dušičky (All Saints' Day).

Spending more time with my grandmother has made me think a lot about getting older. I would like to see older people around the world being treated the same as all the other people in society, because we all have similar needs. The only difference is that older people need specialised care, but that should be an automatic right. Older people spend their lives serving society. They should be entitled to live with dignity.

Governments should value older people

When I asked my grandmother what she would like to change, she said: "The way governments perceive older people." She added: "Older people always turn out to vote so governments should value us more by making sure their policies meet our needs." 

On Saturday we went to an exhibition of artefacts at Prague Castle. We both really enjoyed ourselves. Throughout the week, we've both had a very good time. What I like most about my grandmother is how open-minded she is. You can talk to her about anything! My grandmother has also been glad to have someone there to take care of.

During the week, I also went with my grandmother to the physiotherapist and the rheumatologist. They help her feel better. I think my grandmother is one of the more fortunate ones, as I've seen in documentaries and magazines that very few older people in developing countries have proper pensions or health insurance like here.

This experience has made me realise that older people are more fragile than they look. One of the things I will do now is to practise using my memory. Living with an older person has made me think about how my memory may get worse with age and how important it is to keep using it everyday.

Important not to be alone

Another thing I hadn't realised is how important it is to have someone to share your thoughts, memories and time with, rather than being on your own. I always wanted to be a castaway like Robinson Crusoe and I never understood why he wanted to escape from the island and return to civilisation. But now I can see how important it is to not be alone.

I think that‘s why it‘s not so bad that in some cultures, parents leave their children in the care of their grandparents while they work. Although it might be difficult, it means older people are not alone and the children gain wisdom and knowledge from their grandparents.

To sum up, the week I spent with my grandmother made me think deeply about what it means to get older in the Czech Republic. I‘m not afraid of getting older, even the health problems that come with it don't seem so bad, as long as you're not alone.