Have you received a kind gesture lately and felt the urge to pass it on? One of the best ways you can do it starts right in your very own neighborhood – helping out your senior neighbors.
We are all busy, but taking the extra time to say hello or help with a small task can make a major difference in your neighbor’s life. What better way to build a community than that?
If you are looking for ideas on how to help your aging neighbor, here are 10 ways you can do it!
1. Introduce yourself and exchange contact information
The first step to take with an aging neighbor is to simply introduce yourself. Become familiar with their name as well as the names of their family members or caregivers. Exchange emergency contact information in case an issue arises. Just knowing that someone nearby has this information can provide major peace of mind to both the senior and their family – especially if they live far away.
2. Visit and check in often
Social interaction is crucial for seniors. Becoming isolated is a major risk for seniors emotionally, cognitively, and physically, especially for those who live alone and are aging in place at home. In fact, studies have shown that seniors who are socially isolated experience cognitive decline at a more rapid rate and may contribute to developing dementia or Alzheimer’s.
There are simple, free ways to provide your neighbor with the social engagement they need to thrive. For example, say hello when you see them at the mailbox. Stop by their house every so often and have a chat. They will probably have many stories to share, and will love hearing your stories, too. You never know how much a simple visit could mean to a senior.
If you haven’t seen your aging neighbor in a while, or notice their mail or newspaper have not been taken in, check and make sure they are okay by giving them a call or stopping by their house. This small act could actually save a life.
3. Deliver groceries and essentials
Sometimes everyday errands like grocery shopping can be daunting for seniors who are aging at home. When mobility and transportation pose challenges, quickly running to the store to pick up some things may not be an option. Make their day a little easier by asking your senior neighbors if they need anything when you are going to the store. They will appreciate it immensely!
4. Prepare a meal
Everyone loves a home cooked meal, no matter the age. When you are making a meal or baking treats, consider making a little extra to bring over to your aging neighbor’s house so they can enjoy some too. This will without a doubt brighten their day, and will probably be a major help for them, too.
5. Help with home maintenance
Certain home maintenance tasks become harder to complete with age. Some ways to help with home tasks include offering to mow your neighbor’s lawn, rake leaves, or shovel snow (if you live outside of Florida!). You can also ask if they have anything they need fixed in their home, like changing a lightbulb or replacing the batteries on a smoke detector. These tasks may be small, but they make a big difference for seniors.
6. Offer help with transportation
Transportation is one of the biggest barriers for older adults. Some seniors do not have a car, or driving may no longer be a safe option for them. Additionally, many seniors do not have family nearby to take them to doctors appointments or shopping.
Every so often, ask your senior neighbor if they have any doctors appointments coming up that they need a ride to. Offering them a ride to appointments, senior centers, stores, and more will be extremely relieving and meaningful to the senior, guaranteed.
If you are not able to drive them consistently, you can introduce them to ride services like Rides by GoGo and Senior Consulting Advisors. This on-demand, 24/7 ride service was designed specifically for seniors. They offer many safety features and accommodations to help seniors get to where they need to go and maintain their independence. For more information on this program, visit FloridaSeniorConsulting.com/transportation, or call (800) 969-7176, option 1.
7. Help with pets
Pets can have significant emotional and physical benefits for seniors. However, with age, taking care of a pet can become more difficult.
One way to help is by offering to take your neighbor’s dog on a long walk or to the dog park to get some exercise and interact with other pets. You can offer to feed fish, play with cats, or even clean a litter box. Your neighbor and their furry friend will thank you!
8. Assist with technology
Seniors are becoming more and more comfortable with technology as time goes on. However, there are some parts of technology that can be confusing or complex for seniors – who did not grow up with much technology at all.
Ask your senior neighbor if they need any help working their technological devices, whether it be fixing their television, adding shortcuts on their computer, downloading apps on their tablet, adding contacts or deleting pictures on their phone, or any other task that may arise.
9. Help them stay vigilant against scams
Seniors are highly susceptible to scams, and thus are frequently targeted by con artists and scammers. Some common internet scams include phishing scams, fake check or overpayment scams, government official scams, fake sweepstakes, and more.
Offer to help your neighbor determine if certain opportunities are real or fraudulent as they arise. Intervene if you notice your neighbor being tricked into suspicious activity. And be sure to report any suspected scams to local law enforcement and to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) through reportfraud.ftc.gov.
10. Connect them with community resources
Sometimes seniors are not aware of available resources in the community that could be beneficial to them. Let them know about any relevant opportunities you hear about, like book clubs for seniors, adult day care centers, senior fitness classes, Meals on Wheels, Veterans programs, and more.
If you believe your elderly neighbor could benefit from a senior care advisor who can help them with home modifications for aging in place, or with senior living communities, connect them to Florida Senior Consulting Advisors. We will help them on their senior care journey to make sure they are in the best situation possible.
You can also give them information for community services like Area Agencies on Aging, which offers support in numerous ways for seniors aging at home.
Conclusion
Overall, making the extra effort for your elderly neighbor will never go unappreciated. Gestures as big as driving them to appointments and as small as offering a smile are sure to make a difference in your neighbor’s day. So spread some kindness today and help out your neighbor. They may even end up becoming a good friend!
What to do when your aging neighbor needs more help
The time may come when your aging neighbors’ needs are becoming too big for you to help out with. When this happens, it is best to reach out to your neighbor’s family or caregivers and share what you are seeing.
If aging in place is becoming a less safe option for your neighbor, it might be time for them to consider senior living.
Florida Senior Consulting Advisors can help with that.
Our expert senior advisors will find your loved ones a senior living community for any level of care they need – whether it be independent living, assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing care.
Not only that, but we will accompany you on tours, arrange your move, help you unpack, and check on you frequently while you settle in.
To discuss your situation and see what kind of senior care is right for you or a loved one, call (800) 969-7176 or visit SeniorConsultingAdvisor.com.
