From a helper's viewpoint
"After
my own mother died, I wanted to continue to help
others. I started to do some yard work for the seniors
at Seniors Helping Seniors.
One
of the women I've been helping out lost her husband,
who had been wheelchair-bound for some time, just
like my mom. I understand how hard it is to lose
someone you've been helping out like that. There's
the loss of the death and there's also just that
sense of not knowing what to do with yourself.
So
while I'm planting the new bulbs, we're also talking
about life, love, mourning and the next steps. It's
a lotmore than just the yard work that's getting
done in that garden."
From the viewpoint of a mother and daughter
"My
husband and I have been together 69 years. But he
just needed more help than I could give him so he
moved into an assisted living facility. He hated
it. And so did I. We tried to bring him home and
get different services, but it was so expensive
and the people who were helping out did the job,
but just didn't really care about us.
Now,
it's different. I can afford to have someone stay
with us overnight so I don't have to worry about
trying to help him get up. We have people who help
us out by cooking, cleaning and driving us places.
And the best is that they're all really terrific."
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"When
my dad got to be too much for my mom to take care
of at home, we tried an assisted living facility.
They did all the right things, but he was incredibly
lonely and heartbroken and so was my mom.
Can
you imagine after 69 years of living together, you
have to spend this time apart? Thank God for Seniors
Helping Seniors, they gave them what they needed,
with people who cared at a cost that was affordable.
They really relieved my worry."
From
the viewpoint of someone who is helped
"I
can't even imagine life without M. She takes me
places, brings me gifts, helps me shop, cook and
get the house cleaned. And since we were both nurses,
we have lots in common.
Not
just our old jobs, but really how we see the world.
She tells me that she gets a lot from me, too. And
I believe it. Over the years, we've become really
close friends."
