Check on that senior next door during snow, bad weather

Published 4:52 pm Tuesday, January 27, 2009

I was secretly pleased by the snowfall that we had in December. It brought back gleeful memories of freely sledding down streets devoid of cars, hot cocoa and no school. Yes, there were times when frustration and cabin fever set in, but we just don’t get that kind of snowfall often, and I was determined to like it.

However, I received calls from many seniors on Mercer Island who could not get out of their driveways, let alone their neighborhoods, for several days. Many tried to shovel their snow and found that at age 85, they were unable to do what was once easy when they were in their 20s. Some seniors had definite needs that I helped to problem-solve, but many others were really frustrated by the inability to do the simplest of tasks such as picking up the mail or driving to the store.

One senior called to ask if I knew of any service organization that could clear his driveway and sidewalk of snow. I asked him if he had family or a neighbor to help. In this case, the senior did not wish to burden the family or neighbors with the task of snow shoveling. I get that, because many seniors have lived a long time being fiercely independent and take great care not to ask for help.

I wonder, though, if you know of seniors in your immediate neighborhood, would you be comfortable asking them if they need any help? If you were going to the store, would you call them and ask if they needed anything from the grocery? Many people assume that someone does not need help until one asks, and many others just won’t ask for fear of being a pest or burden. So how could this work?

Just knowing and getting to know your neighbors is a start. You don’t even need an organized “block watch” to accomplish this. Introducing yourself before a disaster happens will smooth over hesitation to offer or ask for help later. It could sound something like this: “Hi, my name is (insert name here) and I live in that green house over there. I wondered if it would be OK if I check on you if we have lots of snow or the electricity goes out?” Great neighbors exist here on Mercer Island and have called me on many occasions to discuss a concern about a senior or to offer help. This can work.

It all depends on the desire to help. Shoveling snow is not for everyone, but when it is a rare event, just making sure that the senior can get out of her home or to the mailbox may be enough. Much of the anxiety from the snow storm was really due to not knowing when people would have access again to the grocery store, pharmacy or doctor.

Another reason to think about neighborly contact is in preparation for a larger disaster. Remember the windstorm several years ago, when many Islanders went without power for weeks? Neighbors checking on neighbors helped many residents, without the need for emergency services.

There is also a formal way to get involved in helping your neighbor. Jennifer Franklin, our Emergency Preparedness Officer for the city of Mercer Island, is creating volunteer teams to help out in case of a disaster. Contact her at (206) 275-7905 or jennifer.franklin@mercergov.org. Just getting to know your neighbor and talking together can make a difference when we have a large storm, no electricity or even a huge disaster.

Betsy Zuber, a geriatric specialist, provides social services to people age 55+ and their families who live on Mercer Island. She can be contacted at (206) 275-7752, betsy.zuber@mercergov.org.