How to Help the Senior Veterans in Your Community
Many seniors are struggling these days – and that goes double for veterans. Whether their troubles are due to a lack of funds, problems with mental health, or simple loneliness, the fact is that there are probably seniors in your community who could use your help. Today, American Legion Department of Connecticut shares a few pragmatic insights to help you make a positive difference in the lives of seniors in your community.
Help With Daily Activities
If you know a senior who struggles with transportation, consider lending them a helping hand by doing chores, such as going to the grocery store or taking them to their medical appointments. In fact, depending on how close they live to the store, you could leave the car at home and get a little exercise while you help them run their errands. You might also help to coordinate volunteer activities, like having the local youth group help with landscaping or simply write letters to veterans thanking them for their service. You might also consider helping them clean their home, which can give them a cozy and comfortable environment to live and relax. A clean and decluttered space is not only safer for seniors with mobility issues, but it’s also a healthier and more positive environment.
Assistance With Income
Quality of life correlates with income. Unfortunately, many seniors, and especially veterans, struggle to make ends meet each month. But you can help by connecting those in your community with resources that can help. A few examples, according to the National Council on Aging, include VA benefits for rehabilitation, home hospice, or community care. There are also programs that can help with housing, food, and even home repairs. You can look up information on financial assistance for the elderly by state to find out more about help that may be available based on age instead of veteran status.
Entrepreneurship With Age?
Even with income assistance, some veterans may need a bit of extra cash to make ends meet. Many turn to entrepreneurship as a way to not only meet their financial obligations but also for personal fulfillment. Help them get started by researching local LLC formation rules. You can even help them file online so that they don’t have to pay for an attorney. Your local Chamber of Commerce may be an additional resource that can help your senior entrepreneur get up and running.
Share Fellowship
Sometimes, one of the best things you can do for a senior is to simply sit with them during service or share fellowship in some other way. Invite them to family night (or another event) or even have them over for dinner after church. Other ways to help your senior friends enjoy their church community are to pray together, read the Bible together, or simply share words of encouragement when they are down.
Other Ways To Get Involved
If you do not have a specific veteran that you’d like to help, there are still plenty of other ways to get involved. You might, for example:
- Teach music classes to veterans for free
- Set up a nonprofit to help those less fortunate
- Offer a senior discount at your place of business
- Volunteer at your local veteran food pantry
- Plan fun events with seniors as the guests of honor
- Help with their four-legged companions
There is no right way or wrong way to offer a helping hand to the seniors and senior veterans in your community. However, those ideas listed above are a great start. Whether you choose to sit down and share a meal, help them get their business started, or offer a helping hand with house cleaning, every gesture will have positive benefits. If you’re still not sure what you can do, just ask. There are many seniors in your community and congregation that would likely welcome the attention and assistance.
American Legion Department of Connecticut is proud to serve America’s veterans. If you have any questions or you’d like to participate, call 860.436.9986.
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