Five centuries ago, the most respected and influential people consisted solely of the elderly. These people were sought for all over the land for their invaluable leadership and advice. But it seems somewhere in these 500 years, society has lost this philosophy. Maybe because there are so many elderly people still alive today. Maybe because they are in no condition to help themselves to help others. Or just maybe society has so foolishly chosen the advice of “Google” or “Wikipedia” over our older generation. We have forgotten the power and knowledge of the stories that the elderly carry.

According to Senior Living Statistics, approximately 1.5 million senior citizens live in ‘secluded’ retirement homes. Retirement homes, for decades, have been regarded as just places to drop off the elderly and visit once or twice a year.

Many hold firm in beliefs that such places are poor choices to send older people. “Retirement homes are horrible places,” said junior David Agajanian. “They mistreat the elderly. I would never send my grandmother there.”

Senior Rana Jammal said she also would prefer to keep her grandparents close to home. “My grandmother and grandfather live with my family for one reason, because we care about them,” she said. “We’re not like others who send their elderly to ‘homes’ and wait for them to die.”

Others suggest that retirement homes are created to help the elderly since sometimes families cannot provide the higher level of care that such facilities can offer. “I, myself, went through this same situation with my father,” said Clark Humanities teacher Chris. Davis. “When my father was in his 50s, he developed Parkinson’s Disease and my mom and I decided to take care of him at home. But after a while, it was too much work for us to take care of him all by ourselves, se we decided to bring in a nurse.

“Ultimately, though, we chose to take him to a nursing home because he could not get along with the nurses and he really needed professional help. I think the decision is tough at first, but sometimes it’s very draining to constantly take care of our loved ones. Many elderly citizens need professional help, and without retirement homes many families are incapacitated in their abilities to take care of their family members. I agree that it’s great to have your family together, but at some point that is not an option for every family.”

My own mother, Anie Kellzi, gave her input on the matter, having recently moved her own mother to a retirement home. “It’s a very difficult decision. I mean, especially after you hear all those stereotypes that retirement homes are horrible places and people are just sent there to die. I think that is a common misconception that should be really changed.”

“For example, when we put my mother into a retirement home, she really was not excited about it because of all the stereotypes she had heard over the years. She thought we were just going to drop her off there and never visit again. But as she has soon noticed we visited her even more often at her new home their her old residence. In the retirement home she currently stays at, she never has to worry about getting bored because of all the activities and friends she has.

“We ultimately decided to move her into the retirement home when my sister and I could not be there for her. For five years my sister and I would take care of her, putting her own health in front of ours. And not only did we have to worry about her, but we had our own jobs, our own responsibilities, etc. Ultimately after her heart attack, she needed professional help 24-7. Since we could not be there all the time. That’s why we decided to move her into a retirement home.”

The other day while I was visiting my grandmother, she and her friends began sharing stories with each other about when they were younger. And it occurred to me what “Google” and “Wikipedia” would never have — the stories of our elderly. The priceless stories that should not be taken for granted. It’s time to change the perception of “old hags” to “ancient treasures.”

Our story begins on September 5, 2013, the first day I visited my grandmother’s new home. As I entered through the massive golden arched doors ready to search for my grandmother, I encountered an elderly woman screaming for her parents. “Where is my mom and dad? They should’ve been here to pick me up!” screamed the woman, not realizing her parents had been dead for 30 years. I began to worry about what type of place my grandmother called her new home. She could not have been happy in this house of mad men. She did not belong there…

And soon enough I found my grandmother playing cards in the game room with some new friends she had already made. I asked her how she felt in this new foreign home of hers. And she cheerfully responded as she always did, “Don’t worry about me, I’m doing great.” These string of words she had probably uttered throughout all of my short life never sounded better. I was reassured that she was doing fine.

As I began to relax, I introduced myself to her new acquaintances.The first person I met is probably the most friendly and loving person in town, Effie (Eufemia) Little. And as we started to get to know each other, Effie began to tell me the story of her interesting life. Thinking it would be boring, I just listened to it as a courtesy, but as I gave it a listen, I began taking notes.

Effie began her “Little” story in the region of Scotland. She was born in Scotland, on May 30, 1926. As a teenager she voluntarily served in World War II as a part of the Royal British Navy. Private Little served the Navy by instructing fighter planes to safely land on British ships. She proudly served the British Navy for two years. She recounts, “I would have to protect my younger sister and mother during the days where the German Planes flew over London.” Effie made her way to America 50 years ago to follow her lover and future husband John. As an American she was a waitress for a local restaurant for 15 years. Now she is a proud grandmother of two beautiful girls.

My own grandmother, Hermine Hatzikian, was born in Syria, on April 12, 1924. She was one of five children, where her oldest sibling was 16 years older than her. Hermine’s father was a mildly-successful businessman who sadly died before Hermine was five. He was suffering from a disease he caught when he was uprooted from his home in Armenia during the Armenian Genocide. As a young child, she was supported by her older brother.

At the age of 25, Hatzikian moved to Lebanon and received her teaching degree where she later met her husband, Nazaret. They lived a happy life together raising two girls until war broke out in Lebanon.They were forced to flee to America for their children’s safety.They left all their money, family, friends, happiness for their safety. Hatzikian later ultimately served as an English teacher in California for about 30 years and retired at the age of 81. She now enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. One of her greatest accomplishments that she recounts was to move her family to the United States of America.

Like my grandmother, Chuck Brand also values what America has done for him. All his life he was urged to be a lawyer by his parents against his own wishes. He wanted to serve for the American Air Force. Fifty years ago, pilots were maybe the most respected people in the world because they would risk their lives flying unsafe planes. Chuck earned his Law Degree to please his parents, but also pursued his dream of entering the U.S. Air Force.

He trained for two months and then was deployed flying several missions as a part of the Air Force. Chuck then was recruited by the C.I.A. to work in the pentagon on a top-secret task. To this day, he does not have the clearance to tell us what that task was. Chuck may be 85 and helpless now, but he is and always will be a hero. But with all his impressive accomplishments, Mr. Brand is proud most of being a grandfather to two beautiful girls.

I am proud of my grandmother. I love my grandmother. She still has an influence on my life, even in her advanced age. Whether it is with my English homework or family matters, I always know my grandmother is there for me. Although she may not be the same independent lady she used to be like before, she still does have an effect on my life and my whole family.

I would trade the use of Google or Wikipedia any day for her. What she might lack in universal knowledge, she makes up for in experience. My grandmother is and will always be my ancient treasure.