Lend A Helping Hand

I spend a lot of time with my grandmother and as a caregiver. It makes me feel bad when work or other obligations limit the time I have to check on my grandmother. It is so easy to get lonely and feel as if no one cares anymore.

Elderly Person

The other day we returned to her home from physical therapy. We’d only been gone two hours at most. My grandmother looked at her answering machine and seeing there were no messages commented, “I guess no one cares.”

Loneliness is no fun and we are all thankful for those that take a few moments to let the matriarch of the family know they care. It’s so easy to do and with just a little bit of effort you’ll be amazed at how rewarding this act of kindness can be.

If you know of anyone home bound, elderly, handicapped or just lonely here are a few ideas of things you can do to let them know you care:

–give them a call
–send them a card/letter
–pay them a visit {don’t overstay your welcome}
–invite to take them to church
–ask if you can pick something up for them at the store
–take them a casserole/food
–rake their leaves/mow their yard/shovel snow from the driveway
–work in their garden
–clean their house
–offer to take them for a drive {if they are unable to drive}
–read to them {if eyesight is waning} or get an audio book from the library {find out what they’ll enjoy first}
–if you’re musically inclined you could sing or play for them {please pick music that they enjoy}
–if it’s a homebound neighbor, offer to bring in their mail and/or paper

A Helping Hand

Regardless of their limitations please realize that it is hard on most people to realize they have limitations as they get older. A kind reminder that as you lend a helping hand, to treat your loved one with kindness and respect. Let your neighbor or family member do as much as they can, and assist when necessary. Just remember if you live long enough, one day this could be you and think about how you’d like to be treated in any given situation. Leviticus 19:32 tells us to ““Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.” (NIV)

These are just a few ideas of things you can do. Do you know of anyone you could reach out to today? Can you think of other ways to reach out and show you care?