Earth Day in SoCal was highlighted with groundbreaking for the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing to be completed in 2025.
The world's largest such construction with more SoCal wildlife bridges across freeways hoped for in the future.
Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing.
Erin Myers reports for the KTLA 5 Morning on April 22, 2022
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Living in place and thriving as I age presents increasing challenges the older I become. Talking with a friend a decade younger but who is coping with issues of her's and husband's our conversation evolved to some of the needs we have. My family lives across country from me and, especially since Covid rarely is able to visit, unlike her family but they live in different communities so cannot easily visit their parents either.
Wouldn't it be nice if there was a pre-screened group of people, maybe even senior high school or college students wanting to pick up a few hours of paid work occasionally, to provide assistance for incidental tasks?
Instances of retrieving boxes of items stored in high storage areas or replacing them, for example -- all those once simple actions that are no longer easy or even wise to undertake for physical or safety reasons. Somebody could pop in for a couple hours with advanced schedule coordination and take care of an accumulated list of tasks we prepared.
Most of the available help seems to be only those to do house cleaning or provide nursing or personal care such as bathing, cooking/feeding, companionship. There is a woman where I live who advertises as a Girl Friday who comes closer to providing such service, but she only runs errands, or shops for people.
Not all older people have such needs as my friend and I discussed, but perhaps some of you do or have thought about a source of such help.
I live in India where such problems do not arise as, daily help is available in plenty and middle class individuals and families can easily afford to hire such help. Many of us seniors also live with one of our children, as I do, and often in rotation with all so that there is no strain on one child. Help in the form of online domestic services like plumbing, electrical repairs etc are also available and are economic to use.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear such help is readily available in India. We should be so fortunate in the U.S. i have no difficulty obtaining repair help for utilities i.e. electrical, plumbing, etc. but are not necessarily economical and wouldn't be for many people.
DeleteI so understand the need and would appreciate some help for things I just can't do anymore. High school kids would be a good idea.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I haven't had contact with families who have high school age children for years. Also, for many years many young people don’t want to do such menial jobs, or even work for that matter. That may not be as true in all communities depending on their standard of living though our area is certainly not among the most affluent.
DeleteYou always give me something important to think about, Joared. Because I have no children or even nieces or nephews who might help me in the ways you described, I went to Google to see what is available in our small town near the Canadian border. This is what I found:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.rightathome.net/northwest-washington/services/companion-care
https://www.circleoflife.coop/services-offered-by-col/
Both of these offer what they call companion care, which I think would cover what I might need as I age in my own home. Of course there is a cost that is currently beyond my income but I am in the process of getting a line of equity reverse mortgage which will give me access to what amounts to a loan that is repayable upon my death. The reverse mortgage will allow me to stay in my home and pay for services, should I need them. If I don't get the reverse mortgage, I know I'll be okay, although I'll have to keep my life extremely simple.
I do live in a condominium and it is occurring to me that I could ask younger neighbors for simple neighborly help by putting a notice on our community bulletin board. Not that long ago, I asked my next door neighbor if I could hire him to do some simple electrical work and he didn't charge me for the work.
We also have Western Washington University students studying for degrees in Social Services. I'm wondering if the Social Services Department would have a list of students willing to volunteer or be hired for the types of help an older person living alone might need.
I love knowing about those wildlife crossings. You've reminded me of a book I just finished reading -- A Walking Life, by Antonia Malchik. She points out how freeway systems disrupted the freedom to walk across town for so many people throughout the United States. What was once a walk down the street became a commute requiring a car or public transportation. I'm wondering how many people will walk across the wildlife crossings.
Inreresting to learn of what help might be available in your town. Blog policy doesn’t usually allow links in comments but i made an exception in this instance. A wise idea you're checking that out, but even better that you have some assistance from residents where you live.
DeleteI hadn't thought about people using the wildlife crossings but suppose hikers might do that.
I can definitely see the need for help that seniors often cannot get. My husband does Meals on Wheels right now. But when we get older, there are so many things that we'll need help with.
ReplyDeleteI always think it’s wise to think in advance about what some of our needs might be and if services would be available. If not, is there a need now by older people and perhaps we can help set something up that would be in place when we might need it.
DeleteI'm 73 and live with chronic pain and increasingly breathlessness, so although I continue trying to do my own housework and yardwork, chores that I used to do in hours sometimes take days. I know that the my problems will eventually necessitate hiring help, and I have no idea how to go about it.
ReplyDeleteI've not attempted to collect aging needs resource information to distribute from this blog but can describe my local area experience. Others commenting here can likely do the same which may help you.
DeleteIf your community has a Senior Center you might start by contacting them to ask about services in your area that they know about. There are often groups listed on the internet in a Google, for example, search for Gardening, or Housekeeping to which you add your community. These groups have employees that can be hired for specific yardwork services and others for housework. You need to screen several individuals/groups, describe your needs, negotiate frequency of service you want and pay rate.
Such services may not be compatible with some seniors budget, so assistance may need to be sought otherwise. Again, a Senior Center may be able to provide some direction as to who to contact. Social Services in the area could also be a starting point with whom to consult.
Other aging individuals you may know where you live may be good sources to network with by asking what they may know. Some may well be needing or are already receiving similar help to whom they can refer you. There's much to be said for the exchange of such information within a community that helps all.
On a national level there are organizations with sites on the internet that ask for your community, then provide you information to contact them for more specifics about some services where you live. AARP also offers names of many resources. Where I live our city does have Senior Centers, also supports a non-profit group, AgingNext designed to provide information for those choosing to age in place in our homes.
I think you're wise to be exploring now what is available in your community before you find you are unable to do the work you describe.
In our area there are several church groups and schools that provide help from high schoolers to seniors. High school juniors and seniors especially need community service credit not only for graduation, but also for National Honor Society membership. There is also Junior Rotary Club, and they need service project credit as well. Perhaps these exist in your community, too.
ReplyDeleteThat's good to know and worth checking out where I live and perhaps others will find it helpful, too. Thanks!
DeleteWell, you probably know from your nice visits to my blog that I am 89 and very fortunate to be still in good health. However, as soon as we were quarantined because of Covid (remember that Fiasco with Trump at the helm?) I decided to really hone back on what I had in my house. I went slowly through all 5 rooms, closets, etc. and it was amazing how much stuff I gave away or sent to charity. It was a refreshing feeling and it has made it so much easier now that I am finally limited in what I can do. The best advice I can give to anyone approaching old age is to really look at what you will be in for when older and cutting way back while you can.
ReplyDeleteGood advice. Changes in our body functions are more unpredictable as we age. Its probably better to start sooner rather than later or we may find ourselves unable to do what we thought we would be able to do when we thought we would do it.
DeleteI have seen these wildlife corridors and they really work. We need more of them, and a few less people would help too. As for the issues with aging they haven't caught up to me yet, but I am sure they will. I'll cross that barrier when I get to it.
ReplyDeleteKnowing services available in the community before they’re actually needed has been found to be advantageous since life is so unpredictable.
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