Aging adults benefit significantly from a helping hand, whether it comes in the form of companionship to reduce loneliness, food deliveries to stop hunger or general in-home support. Programs and local community service opportunities give those who want to help an accessible path to do so.
Opportunities to support the elderly are not restricted to formal programs. Friends or community members may form their own support network to help seniors in the area. Whether connecting with like-minded organizations or leading an initiative with friends, help is always welcomed.
Assisting Hands Sarasota participated in Walk to End Alzheimer’s of 2021
Opportunities to reduce isolation
Over 40,000 volunteers at the Department of Elder Affairs in Florida work tirelessly to promote the well-being of senior residents. One of the Department’s programs is the Senior Companion Program, which supports older adults who are isolated or who have a chronic illness or disability.
Volunteers in the Senior Companion Program provide transportation services so that seniors can get to doctors’ appointments or run errands. These individuals are an invaluable source of companionship to seniors who live alone. The volunteers also provide respite care so families find relief.
Adopting a grandparent will ease the loneliness of seniors who do not have close family nearby. Long-term friendships can be built when individuals regularly volunteer through local nursing homes. If a time commitment is an issue, consider becoming a pen pal to an elderly person instead.
Opportunities to fight Alzheimer’s disease
The Alzheimer’s Association holds its annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Every participant carries a flower and a commitment to finding a way to stop this progressive brain condition, which affects over six million Americans. The event raises funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s research, care, and support.
All donations from the Walk help the Alzheimer’s Association in its research efforts. On Walk day, participants can Walk from Home in their neighborhood or join a local event. Interested individuals and groups should visit the Walk to End Alzheimer’s website to find a nearby event.
No fee is necessary to participate, but walkers are encouraged to raise funds for research that supports the prevention, treatment, and cure of Alzheimer’s disease. The Florida team Harbour’s Edge, for example, raised $11,395, while another Florida team, Team Wheeler, raised $2650.
Opportunities to end hunger
Meals on Wheels is an ideal program for volunteers who aim to fight senior hunger in their local communities. Volunteers in the program not only deliver hot meals to the elderly but also serve as a meaningful connection to the community.
Additional community-based programs include the Elder Farmers Market Nutrition Program and the Adult Care Food Program, both run by Florida’s Department of Elder Affairs. The latter is generously funded by the USDA and provides meal reimbursements to adult day centers.
Also funded by the USDA, the Elder Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides low-income seniors with coupons that may be used to redeem locally grown, fresh produce from participating farmers at local farmers’ markets. Eligible seniors receive $40 worth of coupons.
Opportunities to promote arts and crafts
Individuals with a knack for the creative arts can volunteer to lead art projects at a local nursing home. Similarly, knitters and quilters will find plenty of creative outlets—and eager participants—when they start a knitting or quilting club at a local senior center or nursing home.
Volunteers might work with seniors to sew a memory quilt, an activity that at once preserves old memories and creates new ones. Help a senior who is handy with woodworking to painting a birdhouse; the feeling of accomplishment will double when the senior watches backyard birds make it their home.
Individuals who can carry a tune might find a senior who can do the same. Starting an informal singing group or community choir will lend music and joy to the senior’s life. Alternately, musicians can share their musical talents by offering to perform at a local nursing home.
Opportunities to improve nutrition
Local programs designed to improve the nutritional habits of seniors are abundant. The Department of Elder Affairs runs the Thrifty Food Plan, a nutritional education service intended to promote healthy food choices in older adults as well as physical activity guidelines to improve health literacy.
Opportunities to help with household maintenance
Seniors who live at home will need help mowing the lawn and shoveling the snow. Community service-minded people might offer to perform household maintenance tasks for seniors in the area. Similarly, offer to wash the car, rake the leaves, and clean the gutters—help that a senior will greatly appreciate.
The opportunities to make a difference in a senior’s life and develop a friendship are endless. While volunteers have plenty of ways to give back to the community, seniors have a reliable source of support when they choose Assisting Hands Home Care. We help seniors live fulfilled and independent lives.
Our home care agency is staffed with a team of compassionate caregivers who are experienced in helping seniors with the activities of daily living. Responsibilities include support with personal hygiene, transportation, meal preparation, transfer assistance, grocery shopping, and light housekeeping.
To learn more about ways to support the elderly, visit Challenges That the Elderly Face Every Day and How to Help
Pleasant elder companion care keeps social isolation and loneliness at bay. Assisting Hands Home Care providers to engage seniors by initiating conversations about hobbies or life experiences, playing games, or assembling puzzles together. We stimulate seniors’ minds, ensuring they stay sharp and alert.
Care options from our reputable home care agency are flexible. We offer short-term respite care or live-in care, for example. Our care services are comprehensive and meet the various scheduling needs of families and their elderly loved ones. Caregivers are also trained in CPR and first aid.
Choose Assisting Hands Home Care when the senior in your life would benefit from extra support. We promote the dignity and well-being of countless seniors in Sarasota, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Florida. Call us today at (941) 417-4715 to schedule an in-home consultation, and we’ll develop a customized care plan to meet all non-medical care needs.
