I just wanted to make this comment. Yesterday I found out an elderly friend had passed away. She had died at least 3 weeks ago- but was just discovered yesterday. I arranged for her funeral and today I am going to clean out her apartment. She had no family and knew only a few people. I would also like to add that when I first bought my house 8 years ago the first thing I did was introduce myself and my son to another elderly lady across the street. For all these years my son has mowed her lawn and shoveled her driveway. She told me right before she died last summer we were the best neighbors she ever had and without us she wouldn’t have been able to live in her house. I was the last person she spoke to before she died last summer. It never cost us anything to help her, but the rewards and lessons it taught my son were priceless. I know everyone is so busy now- but taking the time to introduce yourself now to your elderly neighbors now before anything happens (like bird flu) would help. I know I am rambling- but it hasn’t been a great day.
I’m so sorry to hear about this. How awful. I just posted something under the Canadian preppers thread that touches on helping our neighbours. I keep looking around my small, close knit rural community and wonder if there are safe ways that we can help each other (esp the elderly) get through this as easily as possible.
You are not rambling. It’s neighbors who need to look after each other, even if that means incuding someone eother than yourself in planning. see Forum index and scroll down to community projects. And I’m including this thread in ‘special needs groups’.
Dem….Maybe an “at risk communities”section…Did you see the thread about the pineridge tribe?It could include poor tribes,amish(at risk due to thier chicken interactions yet in better shape as far as self sufficancy),nursing homes,I dont know any others in particular risk to either not even knowing about this or unable to prepare.
Not clear on that, malachi. it’s got to be a local response, or we can’t really help.
Oh, Deb, sorry for your loss-and thank you for the point you make about helping elderly neighbors. We found out during an ice storm a few years back that it certainly works both ways. We may have been doing the physical ‘work’ but they had the knowledge,in a lot of ways helping us out. Also they had the time and patience to spend with our daughter to help her learn how to pass her time ( and she didn’t whine for them the way she did at home!).
Deb, more people like you are needed in the world. You are also showing what an excellent mother you are by providing opportunities for your child to model your compassion and to practice learning how to be compassionate. They don’t get that stuff watching tv, I can tell you that!
The elderly and disabled are some of the people who are most at risk in any type of community problem, disaster scenario, weather problems and of course, the possibility of a looming pandemic. Look at Katrina.
They are often socially isolated. Their children either live far away or are not heavily involved in their care, see them infrequently or (I hate to say this) . . .they just don’t care. They have difficulty getting good medical care. They often have difficulty getting to the store, to see doctors. Their church might not even remember that they are out there because they don’t have a way to church any more. The pastor is busy taking care of the flock that comes to church. In addition, we have raised two generations that live in small families in which the elderly are not often included. In addition, many, many elderly live on fixed and miniscule incomes. For some, there is a choice of eating or buying medication. For example, diabetes test strips are outrageously expensive. But, you need them to check your blood sugar. Many older diabetics have difficulty controlling their blood sugars because they simply cannot afford the strips to test their sugar levels. So . . . .curculatory problems ensue . . .not feeling good . . .
Anyway, those are some of the big problems with the elderly and you have touched on one of the biggest problems. Just finding people who are caring. Can you imagine how lonely it is for some elderly members with no one to talk to on a daily basis?
I have had many thoughts about what will happen to many of the elderly people in our country should a pandemic hit. —what would happen to “meals on wheels” programs which deliver a daily meal to the elderly and disabled? Every program should have a back up plan. Written and in place NOW! —Do we even have any idea of who the elderly are in our regions who are living away from family or don’t have any family? Make a list. Family contacts. Medical needs. etc —the volunteers who drive elderly people to medical appointments and chemotherapy or radiation . . .will they still be there? Communities need to decide now. —Medical offices need to identify their elderly patients and what future needs they might have to medicine, care, equipment, etc. —how do we ensure that they have adequate nourishment, medicines and care for the elderly who live on fixed incomes. If the family won’t do it, will the churches and public health agencies? —are state and federal government providing the necessary infrastructure changes to support organization which support the elderly (health departments, Social Services, agencies on aging) It’s our responsibility as citizens to make sure they do that. And for us too! —what is the role of the church that is biblically mandated to care for the elderly and”the orphans”. If you belong to a church, start a dialogue with members and leaders in the church. —the daily call lines that call elderly people daily to check on them. who will call if there is a pandemic and if there is a problem, will law enforcement and medical support (rescue squads) be available to help them? Somebody needs to find out. Does anyone know if you even have a daily call line in your community??
Deb, I tell you, if we could clone your actions towards helping even one of the elderly, we would be in a far better place, but I greatly fear the the elderly will suffer tremendously if this horrible thing called a pandemic should come to pass.
Thank you for giving joy, help and security to one person. You gave her a gift beyond measure.
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