Gym owner's response to elderly man ‘wandering’ after finishing set got other members ‘choked up’

Being a punctilious person in social spaces has proven to be useful in avoiding mishaps. Even in places like gyms and sports centers, where people mostly keep to themselves, a quick observation can end up becoming a life-saving factor for someone. A man, who goes by u/FrankCobretti on Reddit, revealed how the owner of the gym he went to had a heartwarming gesture after seeing an elderly man struggle post his session. 

The owner not only tried to assist the elderly person but also gave all the other members a sense of comfort and support, leaving them in awe of his actions. u/FrankCobretti mentioned that he had taken an unusual slot to workout on that particular day. He noticed that the majority of the crowd consisted of older people. However, there was one gentleman that caught his attention. “One older gentleman had memory issues—I met him once but he met me five times,” he remarked. The man carried on with his workout as usual, but he continued observing the older member. He noticed further that the gym owner had been looking at the elderly man every now and then. “I noticed the gym owner walking the floor, cleaning the equipment, and surreptitiously keeping an eye on this gentleman,” the post read. 

After the elderly man finished his set, he began wandering. At this point, the owner approached him and extended help. “In a respectful manner, he asked the gentleman if he was finished. Upon getting an affirmative, he told the patron that he saw his daughter’s car in the parking lot,” the man observed. Not only did the owner pay attention to the elderly man’s needs, but he even stepped in to ensure he safely got to his daughter. He even asked for permission and ever so gently interacted and guided the man. “He helped the gentleman with his coat and walked him out,” he said.

This was not all, the owner even spoke “in a caring manner” of the man. “I got choked up in the middle of my set,” u/FrankCobretti wrote. This encounter left the man pondering kindness and empathy. “When I’m a very old man still dragging myself to the gym, I hope I’m fortunate enough to patronize one owned by someone with as much class as this guy,” he wrote. Many people recognized and acknowledged the owner’s heartfelt help. Others even noted how community effort and care are crucial for elderly people.

u/heyseesue wrote, “My dad is in early dementia and recently started going to a gym to try to keep up his strength. I have been starting to realize just how much the patience and kindness of community members will mean for him as dementia progresses. I hope his gym has someone who will look out for him like your guy does.” u/mommagoose4 added, “Kindness always matters. The gym worker deserves public recognition!” u/chantillylace9 remarked, ‘That’s really beautiful and when people do stuff like that without any expectation of being noticed, it makes it even more wonderful.”