Helping At-Risk Seniors in Your Community
There are many seniors in the Knoxville area that need support. While Visiting Angels of Knoxville can take care of some of them, many are often neglected and abused and end up at risk for negative outcomes. If you or a family member needs help with personal care, housekeeping, errands, or getting to doctor appointments, call Visiting Angels at 865-531-4833 and we can arrange a free consultation to determine your level of need.
Ways to Help
This is the time of year when we may worry about our loved ones and neighbors and with good reason. Cold weather makes getting out even harder, and those without support may become isolated during these dark months. The rate of elder abuse cases increased 35% between 2015 and 2017, and it is estimated that 1 in 4 vulnerable adults are at risk for abuse. You can help stem the tide of this disheartening statistic by offering your time and talents to help.
When asked what the biggest concerns were for senior citizens as they age, financial issues, staying mobile, getting personal care, managing medical care, getting proper nutrition and exercise, and engaging in activities and recreation were all cited at the top of the list. If you can help a neighbor improve any of these outcomes it will be appreciated.
Visiting an assisted living facility is an easy way to start. There are many residents who do not have visitors, which is especially noticeable at this time of year. Cheery faces are always welcome, and simply sitting with someone can be a true gift. When you visit, bring a favorite book of poems or short stories to read aloud, or a deck of large print cards to engage someone in a game of rummy. Let the elder decide what they want to do and go with the flow if they aren’t interested in what you thought you might do with them. Make sure to call ahead and ask the staff about spending time with their residents, there might be restrictions on visitors. And make a commitment to visit more than once, while holiday visits can make a big difference to the residents, engaging weekly or monthly can be good for you!
Be A Good Neighbor
Another way to engage with seniors who may be at risk is to simply check on your neighbors. Do you see an elder’s home that seems neglected? Ask if you can help with yardwork. Are they struggling to get the groceries out of the car and into the house? Ask if you can help, then ask if you could help them by shopping for them, taking them to the store, or by scheduling a time you can be around to help when they arrive home with groceries. If you don’t know them well, be sure to connect with family if they are around or start slow and build a trusted relationship. Just saying hi daily can go a long way to making them feel more comfortable with you.
If you have a computer, smart phone, internet, or other technological talents, you can help a senior get connected to the world. Many seniors have computers, tablets, and phones that they are unable to use because they don’t understand the technology. Patience and some time over a few visits will go a long way to helping them. Don’t expect that you can teach them something and that the information will be retained immediately. Short-term memory loss, fear of new things, or poor eyesight may cause confusion about how things work. Reassurance and again, patience, will help them use the technology to its fullest extent to assist them.
Local Resources
Knoxville’s Office on Aging offers Project LIVE (Living Independently through Volunteer Efforts), to volunteers looking to be involved with an organization. The program’s primary focus is on serving homebound seniors who have limited support and income.
LIVE employs case managers who assess each senior’s situation, then links them to community resources that are available with the goal of keeping seniors in their homes, including legal services, some assistance for minor home repairs or modifications, and connecting them with volunteers who perform the home repairs, house cleaning and decluttering, yard cleanup, and similar tasks. Volunteers can work flexible schedules, including nights and weekends. One Project LIVE volunteer said, “I just wanted to give something back, to show that I care. I never knew how much I would get in return.”
From getting to know your neighbors better to volunteering with an organization, there are many ways to help vulnerable seniors in the Knoxville area. In addition to providing home care services, Visiting Angels of Knoxville is always hiring compassionate experienced caregivers if you find that you are inspired by helping. Visit our website to find out more about securing care or coming on board today!