Elder Orphans
It was the actions of an 80+ year old man that has attracted the attention of many and coined a new word in our society, the elder-orphan. The poor fellow was widowed several years ago, has no living family, friends or anyone around him that helps or just keeps an eye out for him. He is an elder orphan. His call was a desperate plea to the 911 operator simply asking if there was somebody that could bring him some food from the market.To say this is a gut wrenching story might be one of the understatements of this decade, especially when you consider that over 25% of the country over 55 years old is single and without any measurable support group. Think about it. What will you do when your spouse is gone. Do you have nearby children or family that can and will lend a hand from time to time when you need it? I know it certainly hit home for me because at 60 I am exactly in the same shape as this fellow. No bus service that runs nearby, no relatives still alive, children in another city and out of touch with me. I am going to be stuck. I got myself in the perfect position financially so I can survive on my money, but in doing so I have moved away from anyone and everyone that might be here for me.
If ever there was the need for a phone app that would list every social service agency and program in your local area …. Now is the time to develop it. As America continues to age we are going to need a social revolution to teach our young people the importance and value of helping out the old folks, volunteering their time and energy just so those of us that have contributed so much over the years that they are now benefiting from. We are going to need their help.
I recently started a project that was fun, truly fun and paid pretty good, but it suddenly came to an end because of a health issue. While I’m 100% again in just a few weeks, the job is gone and I’m stuck home again, hoping for another opportunity to pop up but knowing that with my health, age, and this economy, the changes of finding another job are getting slimmer.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not whining because it was me that made the decisions during my life that put me where I am so I have nobody to blame, but with so many hurtles we continue to face as we age, we need a government that is sympathetic or perhaps I should say empathetic to our challenges and our needs. If the police want to do more to refurbish their image, go back to motto “to protect and to serve” and have those officers check in on the old folks from time to time. We have a lot of organizations out there but they need to rededicate themselves to their roots.
An app that would list all the ones in your area? It’s a great idea, I just wish I could write that kind of code, it would be a great challenge …. Anybody out there that’s up to it?
Comments (4)
In the UK, the elderly can have 'meals on wheels' service (subsidised hot meals delivered) and care assistants visiting up to four times a day depending upon need via social services and the NHS. This care is arranged through their doctor at no cost.
In our local community centre, pensioners can get subsidised hot meals and company/support as well.
And living in a small Welsh village, we also have old fashioned neighbourly support for the elderly.
Most supermarkets offer a home delivery service via the internet for as little as a pound per delivery.
Seeing as you have access to the internet, I wonder if you could come up with some ideas about creating community care, although you'd have to be careful given those who will need it will be vulnerable to preditors. One way might be persuading big companies that home delivery is good for business - a lot of busy, wealthier people use it as well, perhaps paying higher premiums for deliveries at peak times.
A growing movement here in the UK involves using viable food thrown away by supermarkets for restaurants where vulnerable people, such as the homeless can pay as much as they can afford (if anything) for high quality meals. The food just needs to be handled within the EU food safety regulations which requires effective organisation.
It might be interesting for you to google the charity Age Concern here in the UK to see what services they offer and how they are organised/funded.
Just a few, hopefully inspirational ideas if you have a bit of time on your hands.