ENG-126 Oral Communications
Term: 135
June 12, 2013
You've read the newspaper stories and have seen the reports on TV: an elderly person is physically, emotionally, or sexually abused – how about the one that was financially exploited by a family member or most recently here locally patients in a long-term care facility are being victimized by staff members. Fact: According to the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability (Tennessee.gov), in 2012- 2,032 cases of elder abuse were reported. Fact: only 1 in 23 cases of elder abuse are reported.
When something like this happens, we all ask ourselves how, and we wonder why someone can't someone intervene before these crimes are committed. The truth is, someone could (and should) have helped long before any elder was victimized.
That’s where you come in. Volunteer for the elderly. Today I will explain no matter what you are good at or even not so good at you can help by being a volunteer. Today I will give you the basics of how and where you can start to be a volunteer. Finally, today I will show you how you make a difference being a volunteer for the elderly.
I know you are asking yourself- How can I help? I am not good at anything. That’s the beauty of it, you don’t have to be. There are numerous areas that you can help out when helping seniors. There’s volunteering to help disables seniors, for example – Chris – you can help - you could plant some of your day lilies to spruce up the lady’s house down the street. I’m sure you can remember the one always known as grandma and back when she was able to do her yard work. Sally – was there ever someone that always was helping your dad or granddad on the car but now his health has failed and he wouldn’t have the breath to change his own oil but he also can’t afford to pay someone. You can help. The public library needs volunteers to distribute books to those that are unable to leave their homes, Deanna –
Cited: E-how.com. n.d. 11 06 2013. <http://www.ehow.com/search.html?s=volunteering&skin=corporate&t=all>. Tennessee.gov. Ed. Jim Shulman. n.d. 12 06 2013. <http://www.state.tn.us/comaging/>. Web, World Volunteering. Volunteerism worldwide. n.d. 11 06 2013. <http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/>.