Help the Elderly

To often today, our elderly are placed in homes because they can no longer maintain their homes. Here is what I would like to do about it. Establish a charity that will care for the maintenance, cleaning and remodeling of their homes as necessary. There are some that are clearly able to afford to care for themselves and their property without our help. However the majority of the elderly will soon find themselves at the mercy of strangers to help them. As the baby boomers retire, the ranks of the elderly without resources is going to swell well beyond the scope of governments ability to help them. I am working to have a charter written for the purpose of taking care of anyone who cannot take care of themselves. I think that these people are a great untapped resource who with little encouragement and a little organization will be able to do great things for their own.

First, I would like to mobilize a team that would take care of light maintenance such as mowing their yards. Raking leaves, cleaning gutters, trimming hedges and preparing small flower gardens for them to enjoy. In the last year of my Grandfathers life, he was unable to enjoy his property because he was too proud to ask for help. I don't want another elderly person to go without flowers to enjoy because they have become to difficult to care for. I believe that this is the first step in the right direction. The elderly have every right to be proud, however, because they are proud, they will not ask for help. If that help was offered, they would gladly take it. The most important part of this program is that it cannot be conceived as charity by the recipients.

Second, As the program grows, I would like to add a cleaning crew. The purpose of this crew would be to do a heavy "spring cleaning" once the homeowner comes into the program, with a yearly "spring cleaning" to keep the home as sanitary as possible. Then a monthly "spot cleaning" to keep the house tidy and relieve those duties from those no longer able to manage them. There would also be a weekly "light cleaning" to do standard housework required in every home. I know of many elderly people who cannot push a vacuum and their home shows signs of neglect. Once again, this service must be offered and cannot be perceived as charity to the participants.

Third, The final team would consist of painters, carpenters, plumbers and electricians. Their purpose would be to build wheelchair ramps, make doorways accessible and to keep the homes of the participants in a "fresh" state. How many homes have you been in that belong to the elderly that need fresh paint? The team would also repair and update mechanical systems for those who need it. They would install air conditioners and remove them during winter. Ask yourself, how much maintenance does your home require? Now, imagine being eighty-five and trying to complete those same tasks. The elderly are proud and deserve to live in their own homes for as long as possible. Only when they cannot manage without full time care should they be subjected to the nursing home environment.

This is the start of my vision. Without our help, I am afraid that too many of our elderly are going to slip through the cracks. I think that all of these services should be free and that the elderly should not have to ask for it or be expected to donate for it. The elderly are proud, (yes I will say it again) and because of this it makes them vulnerable. Once I am able to establish this "organization" I will do my best to establish this everywhere in the United States and beyond. One day I hope to establish "homes" that are just that, homes, not sterile communist style warehouses. Where the elderly can come and not worry about the state taking everything they ever worked for. It was a wonder of legal wrangling that allowed my parents to keep their birthright. I think that living to old age should not be penalized. I think it should be liberating. I think that if the elderly were organized, they could do most of this themselves within reason. Elderly helping elderly. I am not talking about socialism or communism. I am talking about being Christian and doing what is right, not what is profitable.

One last note with a quick stab at our government. The prescription drug program that was pushed through congress a couple of years ago did little to help the elderly. It was pushed through with the slogan, "I love my mother." Well, let me tell you something, our government often does what is good for business, but what is good for business is not always good for the people. We all know that Social Security will become insolvent within a few years. If we stand by and allow the politicians to "do nothing" for fear of loosing votes, then we have failed our elderly population. We all know that they will continue to do nothing, this means that it is on us to take care of our own. The truth is that if all goes well, we will all be in the situation of hoping the government will take care of us because we no longer have value to our young.

I will soon have the charter complete along with a plan on distribution throughout the U.S. If you are interested in helping in any way, please let me know. I must say that we will have no political agenda as I don't intend on allowing this to become another AARP. You can reach me at drenchzgrinch@yahoo.com with any information that you may have or need. You may also donate at the same email address on paypal. If you are able to help set up a web-site I would appreciate it. Or if you are able to donate materials etc, contact me and I will tell you where you may send them. If you can arrange for sponsorships that would allow me to get the elderly hvac systems or any other service at cost, please contact me.

For those of you who are skeptical, you have every right to be. For the low low price of $15.00 you could discredit me. I am a former addict among other things. However, I have allot of guilt concerning my own Grandparents. I intend to make that right if I have to do this on my own. I will soon have a direct account at a bank along with a board of directors to oversee the funds. However, all of this takes money and of that I have none. What I do have is faith, faith that people are good and that they are willing to take care of their own. I am hoping that people will do what is right for the elderly for the same reason that they will never break the rich. We all hope to get there someday. Thank you Leonard R. Goodwin II drenchzgrinch@yahoo.com