I used to volunteer at the "last stop" wing at a local hospital. I was still a kid back then so most of my responsibilities were feeding them or handling confused patients.

Some really, really sad stories that eventually you got used to:

• There was one old lady who was in the care ward with her husband. She was actually perfectly able to take care of herself, but she refused to let her husband be there alone. Her husband's mind's largely gone but she still talks to him about every little thing that she sees or crosses her mind, continuing one-sided conversations for hours sometimes on end. She'd tell him jokes, nag about things, talk about TV shows, complain about food, whatever came to her mind. The day he passed away she pretty much shut down. She refused to talk to anyone after that and sat alone by the window every day, looking out. It would have been accurate to say she was just waiting for her turn to join her husband.

• An old lady who lost a lot of muscle control and couldn't communicate at all would grunt and smile whenever it was ice cream day. Most of them couldn't eat real ice cream so we'd microwave it until it's slightly warm and then feed it to them. It would drip out of her mouth but she always looked genuinely happy when she got it, she'd grunt extra hard and pull up the side of her mouth like she's smiling.

• A LOT of bingo was played, although it's mostly played by volunteers like ourselves. Bingo winners would get little trinkets (plastic toys and whatnot) but often they would have no idea what's going on so we'd celebrate for them. It was actually kind of fun.

• There was an old man who would sit in front of the door every Sunday morning (Sunday was visiting day). He would refuse to budge, no matter how cold or hot it was. He would just shiver or sweat with a hopeful look on his face. He would keep reminding us that his son is coming this week and how proud he is, even though his son hasn't shown up for more than 4 years. Eventually he would doze off and we'd bring him inside, until next week. Actually, there was always a few seniors like him, Sunday nights (when we bring them in) was the most heartbreaking shifts to work because nobody ever visits. Family members always say they will but nobody does.

• There was a bench outside the hospital that we installed because patients would sometimes get out, but when they see the bench they would sit down. I've heard it's because they confused it with a bus stop, but sure enough every few weeks you'd see someone sitting there, without any idea where they're going or where they are.

• Every once in awhile a local animal shelter brings over dogs to spend time with patients (it was a form of therapy). It was always one of the FUNNEST days because the dogs are really really friendly. One old man kept confusing a german shepherd to be his own and would get upset when the dog doesn't obey his calls, but then he'd calm himself down and pet the dog for awhile with a smile on his face. He could barely remember his name but always remembered "Dolly".

Shit, when you work there you learn to not get affected by this stuff and start seeing them less as human beings than as machines, but thinking back it really makes me sad.