During this time of need, stay safe and keep your family safe. But let’s do our very best not to forget our senior/homebound population. If you’re able, take advantage of any opportunity to provide time and attention to those populations deemed especially at-risk.
When someone is confined to their home due to convalescence from an illness, recovery from surgery, or chronic illness or disability, their world shrinks considerably. And real fear of the unknown adds to the isolation, particularly now. It’s easy to become disconnected from others and the world in general. Individuals aged 60+ and those with conditions that impair their immune function are specifically vulnerable to contracting this virus. To help ease the uncertainty, anxiety, and fear surrounding this pandemic;
- Reach out (phone, email, visit, etc.) with a “wellness check”. Experts warn that social distancing, the cornerstone of epidemic control, could lead to social isolation, already a problem in the older population.
- Ask, rather than guess, what kind of practical help you can offer.
- Encourage them to practice self-care by eating nutritiously, exercising (if appropriate), getting adequate rest, and avoiding unnecessary stress.
- Volunteer your time to physically go and pick up groceries, prescriptions or other shopping necessities for those who are homebound.
- Something as simple as letting the homebound know you’re thinking of them and that they matter can lift their spirits, given them hope, and provide much-needed comfort.
Remember – it takes so little effort to make such a big difference in someone’s life. Make that difference. Show them by word and deed that they matter. Let’s join together now and “rise by lifting others”.
Just another example of how simple and how powerful our efforts to “Do More” can be. See our article below for even more ways to Do More:
Thank you for this, Dennis, and for all you do!
So true Dennis! Thank you so much!
It’s time to put business aside and people first. We do matter more than ever.
Social distancing Doesn’t exist on social media… we got this🙏🙏🙏😷. Thank you so much. Stay safe🙏
This too will pass
USA Flue related illnesses the week of Jan 18 were almost 15million with regrettably 1400 additional deaths that week alone.
Today USA Coronavirus cases have reached 11355 in aggregate with deaths to date of 171
There will be more but how many ? Should we believe the scaremongers?
In China in just over a month their cases went from zero to a peak and back to minimal aggregating 80000
The daily cases reached its maximum level after 2 weeks
On the way the daily figures initially leapt if expressed as a percentage of the previous days new cases
As they neared the peak that percentage tended to reduce
A plateau was reached and then the daily figures reduced if expressed as a percentage of the previous days figures
If we follow the guidelines the Coronavirus curve from zero back to minimal will hopefully not be too unlike the curve of China and South Korea
If so the numbers will prove insignificant if compared with the normal annual influenza figure
Clive Russell
We need to enlarge our definition of community beyond the limited scope of those who only live near us. Thank you to all who reach out.
Dennis, I lived along the eastern Connecticut shoreline when Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012. The only place within miles that had power was a Starbucks in Old Saybrook. On the second day people congregated there for power and wifi, everyone arrived with extra power strips, power cords, extension cords, and anything else their neighbors in need might be able to use. We’d all learned on the first day that we’d all get through it — together — by sharing.
Your advice is a sound reminder of how much weight can be moved with all of us pulling together.
Thank you.
Thanks, Mark – we’re going to steal your last line here “how much weight can be moved with all of us pulling together.” You nailed it, my friend.
Steal away. The language, too, is ours to share.
We are our “Brother’s keeper”.
Amen, Brother…
Great advice, Dennis. A colleague of mine lives is a retirement community of sorts and they have formed a taskforce to look after each other with wellness checks (at a distance) and by dropping off a questionnaire asking what help people could use. From there they figure out what they can do to help those in need. It is amazing to see how thoughtful and kind people can be.
Thanks, Joe. Nice to learn of so many people now stepping up to listen and learn where they can best help in the midst of it all. Simply amazing what a big difference we can all make with a phone call, a wellness check or simply “being there” for those in need.
Yesterday on our local news program they were talking about the Meals on Wheels program and other senior meals programs. One man who delivers meals said that he used to be able to stay and visit for a little while. But now he has to drop the food and go. I thought of you and what you said about the social interaction of those meals being more important than the meal itself. I am volunteering to babysit for young moms who need a sitter while they go to work because their daycare is closed. So far I only have one, but I am going to also take kids a few at a time to the playground that’s not far from my house to give Mom’s a break. Fortunately the weather looks like it’s going to warm up and cooperate a bit over the next couple of weeks. And spring/summer will come.
Thanks for your comments and for doing what you’re doing, Jane. Every little bit helps in these times of upheaval and uncertainty.
A great message, Dennis. And thanks to my fellow ambassadors for their thoughts and suggestions. One thing I have done on occasion, and it depends on the person, is send a book their way. Receiving a book from a friend or colleague is like getting a bouquet of flowers that never dies. My go-to book these days is THE ART OF POSSIBILITY by Ben and Rosamund Zander.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Jeff and indeed, for your book idea & recommendation. Amazing how little things can make such a big difference in the lives of those less fortunate. My wife and I have been delivering Meals on Wheels for the past decade – primarily to homebound seniors. Inspired by your comments here, we’ll be adding books to our deliveries, as it’s more about feeding the mind and the hearts of our recipients than it is simply delivering food.
Thank you. Whole-heartedly agree & am inspired to do even more…
Thank you, Sora – it matters!
To add –
1. Play online games with them to help them kill time – scrabble, puzzle, sudoku whatever makes their boat sail.
2. Create conversations around their interest areas – I tend to do this with some elderly folk I am friends with. We discuss Finance, Films, Plays, Literature, Music, Gardening to utter delight on both sides.
3. Devise little tasks around their hobbies. I would give my M.I.L small sewing tasks and that left her little time to worry or mope about.
4. Encourage their hobbies. MIL was great with knitting and would knit lovely things when she was alone in the house.
5. If it is someone close, plan for home-bound picnics, movie date nights, etc. A happy mind is key to a healthy body.
6. Lend them an ear. Sometimes, that’s the biggest help you can give.
I hope this builds on to your wonderful thought train Dennis!
Wonderful additions to our list, Aruna – thank you for your thoughtful contributions here.. We love “Lend them an ear” as it’s so simple yet so meaningful.
I love these suggestions.. Thank you..
Thank you, Dennis! Being healthy and energetic, I believe in the message from Luke: For those who much is given, much is expected. There is nothing more meaningful than serving others.💖
Amen to that, Darlene. Let us look upon our efforts not as a hand-out, but rather a hand-up!
I could not have said it better!💖
Dennis, thank you for putting me amongst such exclusive people to receive your comment. Each and every point you make is not only valid but should also serve as a wake-up call for those who are standing on the sidelines with the capability in one form or another to help others but are not. I commend you highly for this. Having come down with a cold and not wanting to pass it along to others or exacerbate my symptoms on the advice of my doctor I am avoiding the world outside my doors. While this is something that is foreign to me the reasons for needing to do this are disturbing, troubling, and anxiety-provoking. The world other than the internet no longer seems like it exists. My passion for most things is not there.
Your sentiment is appreciated, Joel. A “wake-up call” indeed for those who have the ability to reach out by whatever means available to touch the hearts and minds of those less fortunate during these challenging times.
My pleasure, Dennis! Stay well and Stay safe!
Wonderful suggestions you’ve offered here, Dennis! I’ve been calling a friend (who fits your description) every single day to connect about all kinds of topics. I’m making certain she’s taking good care of herself. As she heals from her dental surgery from last week, she’s enjoying projects around her home including setting up her porch for spring, creating a bag of belongings that she no longer needs-a neighbor promises to take these to a local charity. As soon as I am well and fully healed from this cold, I plan to take additional actions as there are a number of older folks in my poetry group and church who I know could benefit from support and connect (on phone).
I have also sang songs to people over the phone, read quotes, sent photos of beautiful nature. Being able to see human faces in photos may be a kindness to-so sending them a photo of your dog or cat or of You could brighten up their day!
As I think of other ideas I will be certain to share them. We are all in this together. We get to be creative!!
Thank you so much for this encouragement and reminder to reach out, to focus out. When we love others this helps us stay sane ourselves! The giving is the receiving. We get to open the flood gates of loving kindness in safe, compassionate, and creative ways.
What a perfect example of the essence of humanity, particularly during these challenging times, Laura. Stumble upon a quote this morning that says so much by saying so little: “doing something versus doing nothing means everything”… Thank you for always doing something, my friend!
What a great quote that reminds us that even the smallest act of something can mean everything! I also loved this quote that I saw in an email from a friend today: “It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others. Compassion is the radicalism of our time.”-Dali Lama
Thank you, again, for a great reminder, a meaningful post, Dennis!
Excellent advice and message, Dennis. Thank you for putting this out there and for providing a platform where we can use our voices to make a difference. I worry about my dad, who is going to be 85. I live five hours away, but I am grateful that my brothers and sisters-in-law are close by to check in on him. He’s independent and quite social, so I’m sure having to stay home may drive him crazy. On the other hand, I should remind him its a good time to tackle the projects inside he’s been talking putting off.
I wish you all the best during this challenging time.
Thank you for sharing a “slice of life” (your dad) that we all can relate to and understand, Laura. My wife and I have delivered meals to the homebound across Tampa Bay for over a decade and have witnessed time and again that (as many don’t realize) that it’s not about the food, but rather about the human contact. And as the world turns upside down of late, such contact is even more important. God Bless your Dad for his independence and God Bless you and your brothers & sisters-in-law for giving him the right mix of space and connection…
Dennis thank you for the inspiring post. Since moving to a small town it seems like the old days when it was called community service. Everyone helps and knows you by name.
Dennis – Wonderful suggestions. Your kindness and concern for others is always evident. Thanks for this reminder of simple acts of kindness.
Thank you, my friend. It’s times like this that we have the opportunity to step up and demonstrate humanity at its very best…
Amen to that.
Excellent advice here Dennis. Reassess on how we utilize our time. Action is needed.
Direction is most helpful.
We are so fortunate to have the technology we have in order to reach out. Social media, networking, cell phones, etc.
Just half of the worlds population is connected though….
We need to collectively work together and reach out. Open up the devices and teach others in your clans who have no access how to use them, seeing family members via video, etc. In times of desperation, survival takes trump and we learn fast.
Thank you for this article. A great reminder with great tips! Stay safe my friend🙏Paula
All good points, Paula. If it takes knocking on doors, that’s what we need to do in the absence of technology. Whatever it takes, my friend…
I’m knocking! Thank you for all you do Dennis
A lovely and important message, Dennis. In many ways, our modern culture and independence have also raised a divide different from prior generations. It requires very little to show caring and sharing.
Thanks for adding your perspectives here, Maria – Indeed, so little effort can pay such a big difference in the lives of many…
Thank you for this great reminder! We need each other! My siblings and I quarantined our parents and have rallied around to shop for them and visit them! Even the grandkids are getting involved! These two will go out by themselves if we don’t do this! We can help them! It was fun to call mom and act like her personal shopper!!
Wonderful to hear of your family effort, including the grandkids, Jim. What priceless life lessons they will learn and retain in the midst of it all. Thanks for sharing…
This is such valuable information to keep in mind, Dennis. As all of the health officials keep telling us this is going to get worse before it gets better, many of us may feel like we have no control over our lives right now. There are many ways, as you’ve described here, to make a positive ripple in the world and regain a sense of control. Thank you for sharing this important message!
Well said, Melissa. We are in control of our ability to reach out and touch the hearts and minds of those isolated, homebound, homeless or simply less fortunate – and now is yet another opportunity to bring meaning to rediscovering “humanity at its very best…”
I would add the homeless in this equation. Being in Italy I have witnessed the generosity of these people and seen how many people came together through a Facebook post to ensure that those who were on the street, had a roof over there head and everything they needed- food, medicine, clothes.
Absolutely, Suzana. We can’t forget anyone in need. Period. Thanks for the inspiration…
Great advice! A wonderful, heartfelt message, Dennis. And I like Laurie’s advice about giving fruit to the home-bound. Kindness is such an important part of life and community.
Indeed, Christine, kindness take so little effort but makes such a big difference….
I’m grateful (there’s that word again, Dennis!) to live in a small village where everyone is pretty well known; it helps us to help others easily. Especially in the “off seasons,” we’re a small group with the right mindset, and that makes it easy to be sure no one is forgotten, at least here.
Great message these or any days, Dennis!
Nice that you’ve got such a close-knit community, Susan – particularly during these challenging times when simply your presence can make such a difference. God Bless you and all that you do, my friend.
So true Dennis!
I’ve known what they call, ‘shut ins’ in the southern states when I lived there. They appreciate it so much to be visited and looked in on. Take them some fresh fruit every week, you will be helping them and giving them something vital to their health. Older people sometimes stop eating…and that’s when they deteriorate.
It’s the small acts that bind people in very good ways.
Your outreach is a great example of what a difference we can all make, Laurie. And as you know, beyond the fruit you delivered was the extraordinary power of something so simple as human interaction, my friend. It matters, and you matter…