Post by tiddles on Jul 16, 2012 13:26:36 GMT 1
inverclydenow.com/news/local/7548-volunteers-needed-for-friendship-lifeline
I think this is a wonderful idea. It broke my heart that many elderly people spent most of their lives with no company or companionship save perhaps a home help or someone like me. The brain in old age needs stimulation. My only reservation is that they need to carefully screen volunteers, it is a sad fact of our times that not everyone has good intentions.
Once, when I first went into practice here, I visited a wee old lady in Lynedoch Street one morning in March. I was saddened to learn that I was her first visitor since the new year and that she hadn't been, 'first footed'. She was too proud to have a home help and went for her messages alone. She gave me a wee glass of sherry that she had bought in case, "somebody came past at the bells". I am not ashamed to tell you that I was in tears and I made it a rule to pop in once a week to see if she was ok. We became great friends and when she died a couple of years later I was devastated. The irony was, her son and daughter-in-law lived in Largs. BASTARDS and I hope they read this.
I think this is a wonderful idea. It broke my heart that many elderly people spent most of their lives with no company or companionship save perhaps a home help or someone like me. The brain in old age needs stimulation. My only reservation is that they need to carefully screen volunteers, it is a sad fact of our times that not everyone has good intentions.
Once, when I first went into practice here, I visited a wee old lady in Lynedoch Street one morning in March. I was saddened to learn that I was her first visitor since the new year and that she hadn't been, 'first footed'. She was too proud to have a home help and went for her messages alone. She gave me a wee glass of sherry that she had bought in case, "somebody came past at the bells". I am not ashamed to tell you that I was in tears and I made it a rule to pop in once a week to see if she was ok. We became great friends and when she died a couple of years later I was devastated. The irony was, her son and daughter-in-law lived in Largs. BASTARDS and I hope they read this.
