Today I heard something heartbreaking. One of the ladies at work saw a man outside our classroom walking in circles. After fifteen minutes of watching him she grew concerned. She didn't know if he was just loitering or stalking, and in prison every security concern is justifiable. She picked up the phone in the classroom and called the closest officer station to ask someone to approach him.
Fifteen minutes later the officer came into our classroom and told us what had happened when he approached the man. It was not what anyone expected. When questioned about why he was loitering outside the classroom, the elderly man responded, "I'm just waiting for my mom to pick me up. She should be here any second."
Obviously, the officer's whole approach to the man changed after hearing those words. It was clear that the man was suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's or dementia. The officer kindly redirected the man to another area of the prison where he could "wait for his mom to pick him up" without being disturbed by others, and without calling unwanted security attention to himself.
When I heard that story my heart broke. That man should be in a mental hospital.
Fifteen minutes later the officer came into our classroom and told us what had happened when he approached the man. It was not what anyone expected. When questioned about why he was loitering outside the classroom, the elderly man responded, "I'm just waiting for my mom to pick me up. She should be here any second."
Obviously, the officer's whole approach to the man changed after hearing those words. It was clear that the man was suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's or dementia. The officer kindly redirected the man to another area of the prison where he could "wait for his mom to pick him up" without being disturbed by others, and without calling unwanted security attention to himself.
When I heard that story my heart broke. That man should be in a mental hospital.
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