So, watched the movie Thelma and it was like seeing many of my clients on screen. Many, but not all mind you! This isn’t your usual movie review; I am diving deep into the societal themes of hearing loss and isolation and how seniors are portrayed in pop culture. As soon as I started this movie, I felt like I was with “my people” as I love working with seniors.
Thelma is all about aging people stuck in the past, not trying to keep up with today’s fast-paced world. These seniors are portrayed as having all sorts of issues — hearing loss, vision problems, slower movements in mind and body, etc. The main character, Thelma, mostly lives in isolation at home. She uses her hearing aids only when visitors come by, and while she can walk unaided, she is very much alone.
Then, there is her long-time friend, another senior, living in an outdated facility. When Thelma visits him, we see other seniors just sitting around, disconnected, lonely, and bored. Unlike Thelma, this friend sports bud style hearing aids that look newer, unique, and even stylist. Strangely, he also has a three-wheeled, two-sweater scooter he uses to ride around the facility. Kind of ridiculous in my opinion, but I rolled with it.
The movie made me think about when people start to pull away from society, ignore household updates, and fall into the limits of aging. Thelma’s children reminded me of baby boomer’s taking care of their silent generation parents. However, her kids were too young to be baby boomers and I related to them as being my generation, Gen X, with Gen Z children. (I have an interesting point on how we treat our Gen Z kids as well, but I digress and will stay focused on the message of seniors, hearing loss, and isolation.
The story mainly shows things from these seniors’ perspective, highlighting their confusion and lack of awareness in dealing with changing family and society. Thelma’s loneliness is striking, especially when her grandson treats her like she cannot understand modern technology. This part really hit home – I feel we as a society often underestimate seniors who may not be tech-savvy but are still sharp. Keep in mind, I know some seniors are not isolating and are keeping up with the trends. I do believe these seniors are of a different generation, like my parents who are of the silent generation, and older baby boomers who are aware of the effects of isolation.
The movie also captures the loneliness and vulnerability of this senior population. Thelma’s isolation leads to her being manipulated in a scam, reflecting a real-life scam occurring from 2010 until now. It shows how neglect and disregard for seniors’ wisdom and experience are so common.
Despite the movies fantastical elements, the film takes Thelma on a wild adventure, where she finds joy and purpose again. This suggests that with the right motivation, seniors can break free from their routines and embrace new experiences. However, when the adventure ends, Thelma returns to her home, alone, seemingly happy yet still isolated. This made me question why she chose to go back to isolation and why the movie directors didn’t encourage viewers to see the benefits of not being alone.
In the end, Thelma reminded me to empathize more with seniors and respect them as individuals. They were our age once after all! It made me think of my aging relatives, clients, and acquaintances who feel left out in our fast-changing world. We need to empower them, keep them engaged, and make them feel valued.
Thanks for reading, I hope you feel compelled to reach out to a senior in your life 🙂
Cheers, Kim.
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