Taking Care of Our Elderly
We have a proven model ready and in place, we have the relationships and we have the heart for these senior saints, but we need help. We need YOUR help.
The Problem
An aging society
With the increasing emergence of new technologies, people are able to live longer than they did in the past. As a result, we live in a society that is aging rapidly. According to the U.S. Census, there are 35.7 million Americans 65 or older. In general, senior citizens are faced with more and more problems to take care of themselves daily and they are becoming more dependent. Many senior citizens are lonely because they do not receive visitations from friends and family. Being in an environment that is away from their family lives, and often being independent, they need emotional assistance and encouragement that they do not often receive.
An extraordinarily high percentage of those seniors live alone or have family living a great distance away. With today’s smaller families and fast paced lifestyle, many seniors are forgotten or neglected. They quickly become shut in their homes when a relatively insignificant illness takes them down and they loose stamina and hope. A high percentage of these seniors are living through a series of disruptive/difficult transitions for people who are already frail and vulnerable; many often feel forgotten, neglected, or deserted. They are alone–lonely and hurting.
While many of these seniors were active members of their families and communities, they are now at risk of losing their independence. These include four million Americans aged 85 and older, those living alone without a caregiver, those living in nursing homes or other institutional settings, members of minority groups, older persons with physical or mental impairments, low-income older persons, and those who are abused, neglected or exploited.
According to the report “Older American 2000: Key Indicator of Well-Being,” older adults who benefit from social activities tend to be physically and mentally healthier than those who are socially isolated. The reality of an aging population is that an elderly family member or friend affects everyone, regardless of age, in some way.
Our Solution
Inter-generational Encouragement
Well Being For All was created to address the issues of this particular group of individuals and is strategically positioned to offer help, hope and encouragement to this ever-increasing segment of our nation’s population with our program.
Our plan is to facilitate a diverse and permanent contact between senior citizens and young people by encouraging and helping the elderly through our “Inter-generational Encouragement” program. We also sensitize and involve young people in the solution to these problems. We have formulated a plan to bring seniors and youth together. Through various gatherings, young volunteers interact with senior citizens who are given the opportunity to share their experiences. Having been exposed, young people will be better prepared to respond to problems caused by aging. Young people in the community need to learn how to encourage and love seniors and the seniors pour wisdom back into the lives of the youth. Seniors that share time with the youth in their communities have a more youthful outlook and are more involved in their community's projects.
We have initiated the “Love of a Child” which consists of girls and boys whose sweet voices entertain senior citizens. We are also bringing international students together with seniors who share their cultures. Furthermore, we organize reflection days in schools. During these events, children and youths are sensitized about the importance of taking care of senior citizens by distributing brochures. Brief interventions of professional speakers will give the youth a better insight about the issue. We will share with them the impact that some of the activities have brought to the senior citizens in our program and show them the necessity of continuing such activities.
Method of Action
First, we sensitize children and youth about the aging problem so that they may be better prepared to help the senior citizens.
Second, we facilitate connection between senior adults, our children and youth volunteers through our “Inter-generational Encouragement” and “Love of a Child” programs. Volunteers communicate with senior citizens through cards and letters, phone calls and personal visits to begin a relationship built upon acts of service and an investment of our lives into theirs.
Third, with the assistance of our volunteers, we invite senior adults to luncheons, movies and other informal gatherings and facilitate them in meeting other seniors. As they begin to bond, they become a cohesive, caring family of their own, encouraging and enjoying one another.
Finally, as they develop these inter-relationships between children, youth and seniors, we teach and encourage them to go out and find others who need the “human touch and help” in order to pass the blessing on. We also encourage our volunteers to share their experience with other youth to sensitize them about the aging problem and incite them to take part in the solution.
The Problem
An aging society
With the increasing emergence of new technologies, people are able to live longer than they did in the past. As a result, we live in a society that is aging rapidly. According to the U.S. Census, there are 35.7 million Americans 65 or older. In general, senior citizens are faced with more and more problems to take care of themselves daily and they are becoming more dependent. Many senior citizens are lonely because they do not receive visitations from friends and family. Being in an environment that is away from their family lives, and often being independent, they need emotional assistance and encouragement that they do not often receive.
An extraordinarily high percentage of those seniors live alone or have family living a great distance away. With today’s smaller families and fast paced lifestyle, many seniors are forgotten or neglected. They quickly become shut in their homes when a relatively insignificant illness takes them down and they loose stamina and hope. A high percentage of these seniors are living through a series of disruptive/difficult transitions for people who are already frail and vulnerable; many often feel forgotten, neglected, or deserted. They are alone–lonely and hurting.
While many of these seniors were active members of their families and communities, they are now at risk of losing their independence. These include four million Americans aged 85 and older, those living alone without a caregiver, those living in nursing homes or other institutional settings, members of minority groups, older persons with physical or mental impairments, low-income older persons, and those who are abused, neglected or exploited.
According to the report “Older American 2000: Key Indicator of Well-Being,” older adults who benefit from social activities tend to be physically and mentally healthier than those who are socially isolated. The reality of an aging population is that an elderly family member or friend affects everyone, regardless of age, in some way.
Our Solution
Inter-generational Encouragement
Well Being For All was created to address the issues of this particular group of individuals and is strategically positioned to offer help, hope and encouragement to this ever-increasing segment of our nation’s population with our program.
Our plan is to facilitate a diverse and permanent contact between senior citizens and young people by encouraging and helping the elderly through our “Inter-generational Encouragement” program. We also sensitize and involve young people in the solution to these problems. We have formulated a plan to bring seniors and youth together. Through various gatherings, young volunteers interact with senior citizens who are given the opportunity to share their experiences. Having been exposed, young people will be better prepared to respond to problems caused by aging. Young people in the community need to learn how to encourage and love seniors and the seniors pour wisdom back into the lives of the youth. Seniors that share time with the youth in their communities have a more youthful outlook and are more involved in their community's projects.
We have initiated the “Love of a Child” which consists of girls and boys whose sweet voices entertain senior citizens. We are also bringing international students together with seniors who share their cultures. Furthermore, we organize reflection days in schools. During these events, children and youths are sensitized about the importance of taking care of senior citizens by distributing brochures. Brief interventions of professional speakers will give the youth a better insight about the issue. We will share with them the impact that some of the activities have brought to the senior citizens in our program and show them the necessity of continuing such activities.
Method of Action
First, we sensitize children and youth about the aging problem so that they may be better prepared to help the senior citizens.
Second, we facilitate connection between senior adults, our children and youth volunteers through our “Inter-generational Encouragement” and “Love of a Child” programs. Volunteers communicate with senior citizens through cards and letters, phone calls and personal visits to begin a relationship built upon acts of service and an investment of our lives into theirs.
Third, with the assistance of our volunteers, we invite senior adults to luncheons, movies and other informal gatherings and facilitate them in meeting other seniors. As they begin to bond, they become a cohesive, caring family of their own, encouraging and enjoying one another.
Finally, as they develop these inter-relationships between children, youth and seniors, we teach and encourage them to go out and find others who need the “human touch and help” in order to pass the blessing on. We also encourage our volunteers to share their experience with other youth to sensitize them about the aging problem and incite them to take part in the solution.
