There’s a lot you can do to help seniors in your community, especially those without family nearby. You never know how much a simple act of kindness might affect a senior’s life. Read on to learn about a few of the best ways to make a positive impact on seniors in your community.
Helping Seniors at Home
Here are a few ways you can make it easier for a senior to live independently at home.
Helping a senior find adaptive kitchen tools may make it easier for them to cook at home.
Seniors can get fresh groceries delivered by Costco and other retailers.
Picking out an automatic pill dispenser can also help seniors stay independent.
Hire someone to take care of difficult lawn care; for example, find and hire a local professional who can take care of cleaning their home’s gutters.
If a senior’s home is too large, you can help them decide whether to downsize.
You can also help a senior find an estimated price on their home if they move.
Helping Seniors Get Out
Helping a senior feel safer at home is a great starting place, but you can also make a difference by getting seniors involved in activities in the community.
Offer to help a senior get more active by doing exercises.
Find ways to get a senior involved with a new hobby that gets them out more often.
Take a senior out to dinner at a restaurant where they can get a senior discount.
Helping a senior adopt a pet can encourage them to get out more often as well.
Help a senior use Dial-A-Bus to help with any transportation needs.
Helping Seniors Stay in Touch
Teaching a senior how to use technology can go a long way in helping them socialize with relatives and friends who aren’t nearby.
If a senior doesn’t have a tablet, help them pick one out and set it up with apps.
Accessories like a case, screen protector or stylus can make tablets easier to use.
Explain how to use video calling apps like Skype so they can stay in touch.
Social media sites like Facebook can also be helpful for keeping seniors connected.
There are so many ways to make a difference in an older person’s life, especially if they live far from relatives. Helping seniors feel safe at home, communicate with loved ones and venture out in the community are all great ways to show you care.
This article was written by Beverly Nelson with standupforcaregivers.org