“We get so many calls from family members who need resources for their parents,” shares Sally King, ElderHelp’s intake & referral guru. Her voice is often the first one someone hears when they call. “We get calls from all over,” she notes. “Last week I had three calls from Alaska—a daughter whose dad is recently fell, another who knows her mom is lonely, and another whose mother no longer drives. It’s hard when you’re trying to find help for aging loved ones, and you aren’t close by. If there’s something that ElderHelp can do, we do it. But I also refer to a lot of other social service agencies and help families find help with caregiving resources.
The hardest calls are from recently widowed seniors. Often their income has been cut in half due to the loss of a spouse’s Social Security. They’re grieving and not always sure what comes next. Sometimes they just need someone to listen. They need a touchstone of comfort and support, and that’s what we provide. I end each day with Info & Referral calls,” Sally tells us. “It’s so fulfilling to know I’ve eased someone else’s burden and made their life a little better.”
Last year ElderHelp answered the call for over 700 family members needing support for their aging loved ones. Your gift helps seniors age with dignity, providing a lifeline of hope.