HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

If you have a friend or neighbor who is disabled, the caregiver may need special help.  We often want to help but do not know how.  Consider some of the following suggestions:

1. Offer to stay with the disabled person while the caregiver goes grocery shopping.

2. Bake cookies or share a cake with your friends.  The treat will be greatly appreciated.

3. If the man of the house is disabled, offer to make small household repairs, change light bulbs, etc.

4. Offer to mow the lawn, water the flowers, or trim a tree or shrubbery when needed.

5. If you are going grocery shopping, see if your friend or neighbor needs one or two items from the store.  Pick them up.

6. If the caregiver has an appointment, offer to sit with the disabled person while he or she is gone.

7. Take in food occasionally to lighten the responsibility of cooking.

8. Offer to sit with the disabled person.  Read scriptures, carry on general conversations, or just listen to their stories. 

9. A car ride to the country or another scenic place might do wonders for a disabled person. 

10. Feel free to ASK the caregiver how you can help.

It may be easier to work in pairs or teams of two people.  This divides the responsibility and gives a certain amount of mental security.  Do not hesitate to ask questions so you know the special needs of the disabled person.

Have a contact telephone number available at all times.  Have written instructions as to what to do in the event of an emergency.

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