Citizens Called On to Volunteer for Aged
On the 3rd June 2009, the media reported that the Wife of the Governor General, Her Excellency, the Most Hon. Patricia Allen visited a home for the elderly in Kingston, making an impassioned plea to Jamaica’s citizens to volunteer their time by regularly visiting the aged.
Mrs. Allen noted that our seniors are “the pillars on which we are now resting” and the elders should not be forgotten. She’s absolutely right of course and having ourselves hosted Mrs. Allen at Ken Health Care, I am immediately empathetic to her plea and to how deeply she cares for the aged.
A quiet apathy seems to exist when it comes to volunteering our time to care for the elderly and those in need. As Mrs Allen said – and I paraphrase – each of us owe it to our communities, our families, our church families and to society in general to respect and reach out to seniors. They are the ones who have often sacrificed and contributed so much to the development of the society so don’t we owe them at the very least a debt of friendship in their later years?
People often ask me – what can I do to help Ken Health Care? It’s the smallest of gestures that count and these gestures don’t need money. Simply sitting with an individual to read the newspaper or to ask their opinion on the day’s news, pouring their tea while listening to them tell their stories or sharing photographs is a priceless gift to lots of older people in homes such as Ken Health Care. But you don’t necessarily have to visit Ken Health Care to volunteer (although we would love you to)! There are so many creative ways to volunteer for your community and I promise you – the rewards will not only be felt by the person you have helped but will be mostly felt by you. It’s a great feeling to give that little bit extra of yourself to care for others.
For full article: http://www.go-localjamaica.com/readarticle.php?ArticleID=11498
