The Old Ones

"The Old Ones" by Betsy Curtis is a science fiction story that explores the lives of senior citizens in Block Nineteen of a hospital research facility, whose advanced age and declining mental health lead to a series of suicides. The narrative centers on Dr. Jules Farrar, who is in charge of the senior citizen's care, and Tim Daneshaw, a professor who contemplates the resident's mental deterioration. The story begins with the discovery of two residents dead, which then compels Dr. Farrar and the hospital staff to confront the hidden problems of the block's residents. As the story progresses, staff members wrestle with issues of mortality and neglect while also searching for a solution. As tension grows, the idea of finding freedom on a colony in Venus begins to take shape.