Elder Blessings

Dragon wrote:

This!

How you can help elders and disabled in your area during the pandemic (and beyond)

Elders and the disabled and lonely are unlikely to ask for help if they need it
There can be many reasons. Some feel as though they are being a 'burden' by asking for help.
They might feel that they are not worthy of the time and effort and feel ashamed to ask for help.

Sadly lots will go without help they need due to not having any family, no children, no friends and no professional support

If you know an Elder who appears to be ok, remember that just because you feel it looks like they are coping ok, doesn't actually mean they are coping ok. They might have family but they may not be able to rely on them as often as they need and / or might not be able to trust them

It's hard to be a person who is in need of so much support with so few connections to help you. So many will go without. They can end up going without heating to warm up their apartments, foods they need, medication collections. Lots want to remain independent but that doesn't mean they don't need help, sometimes we all need some help.

You could: Leave a note in their letterbox with your phone number and address
You could: Drop off canned goods with a can opener at their house (social distancing)
You could: Ask your elder friend if they need any medications collecting from the pharmacy or someone to contact their health professional for them
You could: Ask if they have enough heating and check that their gas/radiators/boilers or other heating is working properly

You could: Offer to take them shopping and bring them home again

= Give them a mask or two
= Walk around the block with them (social distancing and staying local?) To help them get exercise and keep themselves Mobile if they are able to walk
- Crafting supplies if they like to do arts and crafts, you could also give them crosswords, puzzle books, reading books or dvd's to watch
= Offer them a regular time and day that you will check in so that there's consistency , and be available at the time you give to help them

- Baked goods that are warm will always be good on cold days. Fruits and vegetables to help keep their immune systems functioning well

Elders having vaccinations for covid

- You could offer to take them to the centre to get their vaccination and bring them home
- You could offer to check in with them for the week after they have had the vaccine to see how they are feeling
- Some might not drink enough fluids or eat enough, taking foods and snacks and preparing them for your friend will help encourage them to eat and drink
- Flowers will always brighten their day and cheer them up if they are house bound, bringing the outdoors indoors is always really nice for them and makes them feel less confined

- Reminding them that they are not alone and that they can rely on you is so important. Remember that without our elders we would not be where we are now. They deserve love, care, attention, friendship and support


A phone call could save a life. Check in with them and don't feel like you are bothering them.

Other things you could help with if it's safe:

Laundry
Helping to walk their pets
Gardening/ tidying up their garden
House work (If they allow or ask you to)
Helping them to access carers if they are struggling to take care of themselves
Building trust with you so that they know they have someone outside of carers if they have concerns about how they are being treated
Reminders to make sure that their homes are secure from theft/burglary/danger such as lighting outside, windows locked, gas turned off, fire alarms working etc.
Ask them to call you at regular times and agree a plan that if they don't call, you will visit them or call for help (if they are at risk of falls)
Giving them vitamins or nutrient shakes if they are unable to eat well
Extra blankets, socks, gowns to help keep them warm or air con/fans to help keep them cool with summer approaching
Linking them in with support / charities for elders who are lonely or in need of help. Helplines they can call do exist (but they can't help much more than talking to your friend) so keep checking in whilst you can

[]How to help with care of the elderly this winter

Keep an eye out for illness--

By increasing your visits you’ll be able to spot any signs of illness, and help get medical care quickly. All people aged over 65 are eligible for a free flu jab under the NHS. The vaccine greatly reduces the chances of contracting the virus and developing further complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia.When you visit look out for any signs of illness. Do they seem drowsy? Is their home cold, but they don’t seem to be aware? Have they got a hacking cough? These are all signs that they have some kind of health problem that can be especially risky in winter.

Keep them warm ----

An important point surrounding care of the elderly is to make sure their home is warm. Older people take longer to get warm than younger people, and lose heat more quickly. As they are also often less active than younger people it is easy for them to get cold fast without realising it.
If you know an elderly person who lives alone or has poor health, then ask if you can do something for them this winter

The home should be kept to at least 18 degrees Celsius, and they should wear enough clothing to be warm. A hot water bottle (especially for those who are less mobile) is a good way to keep warm both in bed and when sitting in the living room.

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If you find an older person is very cold then:

Get them into warm, dry clothes and wrap them in warm blankets. A lot of heat is lost through the head so a woolly hat will help.
Give them a warm drink, like tea, coffee or hot chocolate.

Turn up the heating in their house to raise the ambient temperature.
Don’t rub their body or use heat pads and similar items, because this opens up the blood vessels near the surface of the skin quickly and they can lose more heat in this way. As they become colder they become more likely to suffer severe hypothermia and it can also lead to heart attacks and other complications.

Offer a helping hand----

Quite often, older people will struggle along, even when things are getting too much, and be reluctant to ask for help. This can lead to them restricting their lifestyle as they worry about being unable to cope, and they can end up isolated and depressed.
If you know an elderly person who lives alone or has poor health, then ask if you can do something for them this winter. Sometimes something as simple as picking up prescriptions, helping with shopping or putting out the rubbish is enough. Not only will you be doing something practical to improve their life, but they’ll know that somebody is looking out for them, which can boost their confidence.


Just be there------

Research by Age UK revealed that every month more than one million elderly people don’t get to speak to family, a friend or a neighbour.
Quite often, care for the elderly doesn’t involve much at all. Older people don’t always need help, but most people like someone to talk to. So make sure you take the time to call them, or drop in for a cup of tea and a chat. The important thing is just to be there and to listen.
Winter can be a depressing time for lots of people, but older people often suffer the most during this season. Everyone can help with the care of the elderly and it doesn’t take much to have a big impact.



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