Boy missed elderly neighbor who brought him treats and then her 93-year-old husband showed up
After losing his wife of 70 years, Leroy wanted to keep her legacy alive. So, off he went to the neighbor's house
The silence of an empty home is quite heavy. That's why most elderly people living alone across the country seek connections in the simplest of places. For 93-year-old Leroy, who lost his wife of 70 years just a few weeks back, he found this connection at his neighbor's house. Beautifully captured by Bailee Morgan (@baileemorgan__) in a clip on March 6, Leroy can be seen at his neighbor's compound, fulfilling a ritual his wife started. The heartwarming sight has gained 22,000 likes and over 200,000 views since.
A friendship for life
Ever since his wife passed, Leroy has taken up the wholesome task of handing out a Rice Krispy treat to their neighbor, Bailee Morgan's son. At 93 years old, this act has given Leroy a new sense of purpose, as he loves interacting with Morgan's son, making the short trip almost every day. Nonetheless, through her post, Morgan also revealed that this small interaction is something that both her son and Leroy look forward to every day. "It's both his and my son's favorite part of the day," she wrote.
We mean, can you blame her son? Who doesn't love a sweet treat from their elderly neighbor, right? Perhaps no one. However, while this gesture seems quite wholesome on the surface, which it without a doubt is, but at the same time, it also highlights the isolation that often follows a lifetime of companionship. If it weren't for interactions like these, Leroy could easily slip into the wormhole of loneliness, which is the case for the majority of the senior citizens across the country.
Many senior citizens suffer from loneliness
For Leroy, his bond with Morgan's son is a shield against loneliness. However, the same cannot be said of thousands of older adults within the U.S. According to the National Library of Medicine, approximately 24% of the community-dwelling Americans aged 65 or older are considered to be socially isolated. However, that's not all. Nearly 35% of adults aged 45 and older and 43% of adults aged 60 and older report feeling lonely, according to the study. While these statistics in themselves are quite concerning, what takes things further up a notch are the risks attached to this.
Social isolation has often been associated with the increased risk of premature mortality, with approximately a 50% increased risk of developing dementia. Additionally, loneliness among heart failure patients has been associated with a nearly four times increased risk of death, a 68% increased risk of hospitalization, and a 57% increased risk of emergency department visits; and poor social relationships have been associated with a 29% increased risk of incident coronary heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke.
This is why people in the comments section of Morgan's post urged her to set up dinner and activities for his son to do with Leroy. @ashbadash346 wrote, "Omg, set something up for your son to learn from him. I did this with an elderly neighbor. She taught me how to crochet." Meanwhile, @e.imbrie suggested, "You should invite him over for lunch! He probably would really appreciate spending time with you guys."
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