Abbotsford News
www.abbynews.com
Friday, October 25, 2019 A15
ADULTLiving A B B O T S F O R D ’ S
SOCIAL
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HEALTH
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WELL-BEING
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LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST
How to give back to seniors in your community
The strongest communities tend to be those in which members make a concerted effort to give as much as they get. Giving back to one’s community can foster strong relationships with fellow residents and ensure that everyone, including the less fortunate, is in position prove very harmful to their health, to live happy, healthy lives. potentially contributing to probCertain people in a community lems such as depression, cognitive may be more vulnerable to issues decline and heart disease. that can adversely affect quality of Volunteering to help the aging life than others. For example, the members of one’s community is a National Institute on Aging notes great way to give back, and such efthat, as men and women age, forts can prove rewarding for both many are alone more often than seniors and the volunteers who when they were younger, leaving lend them a hand. them vulnerable to social isolation • Pull an extra chair up to the and loneliness. Such feelings can
dinner table. Many a meaningful connection has been made and maintained over the dinner table. Breaking bread with a senior from your community is a great way to foster such connections and provide an avenue for social interaction for seniors. Seniors who live alone might not enjoy cooking for one each night, but they might jump at the chance to eat dinner with a neighbour and even help
prepare the meal. Invite a senior over once a week, encouraging them to share stories about their lives as well as how the community has developed over the years.
way for seniors. Adults who want to help but don’t know where to begin can do the legwork for their aging neighbours. • Offer to help around the house. Seniors who reside in single-family homes may not be able to keep up with routine home maintenance. Neighbours who want to help can offer to mow the lawn, tend to the landscaping and tidy up inside. Keep an eye open for other issues, such as clogged gutters, that can be fixed easily but prove costly if they go ignored.
• Help seniors manage their finances. Many seniors struggle to manage their finances, as laws regarding taxes and investing are Helping aging neighbours is a subject to routine changes. A lit- great way to give back and build tle help in this area can go a long strong communities.
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