I have been driving the seniors bus since February, a little over 5 months at this point. Admittedly, dealing with the elder community on a regular basis is something I am unaccustomed to.
My mother and father have been gone for 21 and 17 years respectively , and even though I have frequent contact with others from that age group, it's not the same as the daily interaction I now have. 
The longer I am exposed to this group the more I recognize that there seems to be one common bond that they all share, the need for independence.
Time and time again, I hear this theme come up.
I see reminders of this constantly. When an aide is telling one of my patrons to do this or do that, the snarl comes out.
When I hear them speak of their living situation, independence is a priority.
Although they appreciate a helping hand, the thank you is often accompanied by a "you didn't have to do that" or "I could have done that myself".
I heard this loud and clear in a conversation on the bus this morning.
After listening and participating in this dialogue, it became clear to me just how much independence means to these folks and how important it is to honor that need.
Having not yet launched my word of the month for July and given that yesterday was the 4th of July, it seemed like a natural segue to use "independence" as this month's word.
That was until I realized that this need for independence was actually some thing much greater.
It's about dignity!
July Word of the Month:
DIGNITY
(the quality or state of being worthy, honored, or esteemed).These mature adults are merely asking to be treated with dignity.
They deserve it,(as do we all.)
They have earned it.
They have had this all of their lives and now in their latter years they are certainly unwilling to nor should they have to give it up.
It's not about ego. 
It's not about pride.
It's not even that they don't absolutely appreciate the help.
They just don't want the price tag to be their dignity.
The realities of aging are a fact of life.
We lose our agility.
We lose our mobility.
We lose hearing and eyesight and memory and even control over our most basic bodily functions.
But dignity....that we can never lose.
It's when we do that life becomes unbearable.
At 63, I still think I am a long way from that time in my life. Truth be told,it's certainly closer than I think.
I can and will ask for help with things that I once did with ease.
I realize that my age has come with some limitations on what I can accomplish.
I can accept this and make provisions for that.
I can set aside my pride,my ego and my need for independence.'
The one thing I will never give up is my right to be treated with dignity.
It is the one unalienable right that seems to mean the most to these folks that I have in my life on a daily basis.
Dignity....
We all deserve to be treated with it.
 I know for sure that I do.