Care for the Elderly

By combining personal effort with the resources available within the community, we can help combat the loneliness and social isolation that many elderly people face

Pradeep Kumar Biswal

Here’s a heart touching anecdote by a newspaper delivery boy circulating in the social media: 
One of the houses I delivered newspaper had its mailbox blocked, so I knocked on the door.
Mr. Banerjee, an elderly man with unsteady steps, slowly opened the door.

I asked, “Sir, why is the mailbox entrance blocked?”

He replied, “I intentionally blocked it.”

He smiled and continued, “I want you to deliver the newspaper to me every day… please knock the door or ring the bell and hand it over to me in person.”

I was puzzled and replied, “Sure, but that seems inconvenience for both of us and a waste of time.”

He said, “It’s alright… I’ll give you an extra Rs.500/- each month as a knocking fee.”

With a pleading expression, he added, “If there ever comes a day when you can’t knock on the door, please call the police!”

I was shocked and asked, “Why?

He replied, “My wife has passed away. My son is staying abroad, and I live here all alone, who knows when my time will come?”

At that moment, I saw the old man’s misty, moist eyes.

He further said, “I never read the newspaper… I subscribe it to hear the sound of knocking or doorbell ringing. To see a familiar face and exchange few words and pleasantries!”

He clapped his hands and said, “Young man, please do me a favour! Here’s my son’s overseas phone number. If one day you knock on the door and I don’t answer, please call my son to inform him…”

After reading this story, I believe there are so many solitary, lonely, elderly people in the world among our circle of friends. Caring for lonely elderly people is a crucial and compassionate act that can significantly improve their well-being. Loneliness in older adults can be a silent epidemic, often leading to a decline in their physical and mental health. 

Here are several ways to provide care and support to these elderly people in our neighbourhood: 

Direct Personal Contact

Start a conversation: Simply stopping to talk to an older neighbour or family member can make a huge difference.  Speak clearly and allow them time to respond. Listen to them carefully with a sense of empathy.

Share your time: Regular visits, phone calls, or video chats are invaluable for them. A consistent, reliable presence builds trust and provides a sense of security.

Offer practical help: Many seniors very often struggle with daily tasks. Offering to help with things like grocery shopping, posting letters, picking up prescriptions, or dog-walking can reduce stress and provide a reason to interact.

Turn errands into outings: Instead of just running errands for them, offer to take them along. A trip to the nearby grocery store or a doctor’s appointment can become a social outing.

Share a meal: Cooking and eating together can be a powerful way to connect and create a sense of belonging and intimacy.

Encouraging Social Engagement

Suggest hobbies and activities: Encourage them to pursue old hobbies or try new ones. Age is never a barrier to learn new hobbies. This could be anything from gardening or knitting to joining a book club or an art class.

Get them out of the house: Help them find and attend local social activities or clubs specifically for seniors. These might include fitness classes, community events, or religious gatherings.

Connect them with technology: If they are comfortable with it, help them learn how to use video chat, social media, or other online platforms to stay in touch with loved ones and make new friends. Now many online platforms are available for older people to connect with each other. 

Suggest volunteering: Helping others can provide a renewed sense of purpose and mission in life. Many organisations welcome older volunteers and try to gain from their experience and expertise in different fields.

 Professional and Community Resources

Senior Citizen Centres: These centres are a great place for older adults to find social connections, recreation, education, and nutrition programs. They can mutually interact and share experiences here. 

Befriending services: Many charities and organisations have “befriending” schemes where volunteers provide one-on-one companionship, either through regular phone calls or home visits.

Helplines: Services like the Friendship Line are available for senior citizens who need someone to talk to at any time.

Home health aides: For those who need more assistance, a professional home health aide can provide help with daily tasks while also offering companionship.

Grief support groups: Losing a spouse or friends is a major cause of loneliness in life. Support groups can help seniors navigate their grief and connect with others who have faced similar experiences.

By combining personal effort with the resources available within the community, we can help combat the loneliness and social isolation that many elderly people face and in doing so, we can greatly improve their quality of life.

Let’s join together to give them a better chance to live.

(Pradeep Biswal, retired IAS Officer, is a bilingual poet writing both in Odia and English. His poems are widely anthologized. He is also an editor and translator of repute. Views Expressed are Personal)