Taking care of seniors

Comedian Bob Hope found the secret to staying young. He offered these words of wisdom, “I’ll tell ya how to stay young: Hang around older people.”

Many more people should think about hanging around with older people because they need YOU.

Did you know that 55% of older adults in Boston live alone?

Did you know that 36% of older Americans in Boston leave their homes less that 4 times a week?

Did you know that 10% never leave their homes?

Did you know that 27% of older adults were unable, to buy medicine, glasses, or make rent payments or heat payments.

Did you know that at least 15% of older adults in Boston do not have someone to contact in an emergency.

Did you know that 10 – 30% of older adults cannot afford prescriptions?

Did you know that 5% of them have no insurance?

Did you know that 3,400 older adults in Boston live in public housing but because of limited space, thousands are waiting?

Many of these people took care of us when we were children and now it’s our turn to take care of them.

In last Sunday’s Gospel from Matthew we hear Jesus tell us on what we will be judged to inherit the kingdom. “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.”

“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.”

We are called to serve and serving the elderly is the right thing to do. We too, someday could be in the same predicament.