October is the month that has the largest community support day called Make a Difference. Millions of people gather around the country to improve the lives of others. In its 24th year, this day is all about helping those less fortunate or people who just need a helping hand.
Seniors often need help more than one day a year – it is often a life-long issue as they get older and less mobile.
Many senior citizens need help because as they age, doing household chores or running errands can become more difficult. If you have a senior relative, neighbor or friend, here are some ways you can help make their life a little easier.
- Paint. Maybe their house could use a facelift. Volunteer to paint the exterior of their home or even a room. Painting one room can brighten up their whole outlook!
- Wash windows. Washing windows can be hard, especially if it involves ladders. Wash their windows inside and out and take off the screens and clean them.
- Many times seniors are lonely, isolated from their friends or family. Put aside some time to just listen to their stories, lessons learned and experience. Find out what they are passionate about and chances are, they would love to share some anecdotes with you.
- Fall proof their home. About 1/3 of the elder population over the age of 65 falls every year. At 80 years, over half of seniors fall annually. You can make a big difference by fall-proofing their home. Remove any loose throw rugs. Change all the lightbulbs so they can see better. Make sure all railings are secure and any clutter is removed.
- Clean their home. It can be hard for seniors to dust and vacuum their home, especially getting into small spaces. Volunteer to do a thorough cleaning.
- It can be hard to cook for just one or two people, yet seniors need to be concerned about their nutrition. Cook a home-cooked meal and share it with them. In fact, cook a week’s worth of meals so they can freeze them. Too many seniors subsist on TV dinners and take-out food.
- Run errands. Offer to run errands for seniors who have difficulty driving or can’t drive at all. If possible, do this weekly, and let them know you are available if they need you. You can also bring them along as you ride around town, so they can get out of the house and visit with you at the same time.
At FirstLight Home Care, we make a difference in the lives of seniors every day through compassionate in-home care. Our mission is to help seniors stay independent and safe in their homes for as long as possible.
Make a difference in the life of a senior all year long.