Elderly neighbours in the cold weather

McKneff

Its a damn good idea, my husband is 66 and has sight problems. and I go out to work, the other day the man
across the road, bless him, came across to ask him if he wanted some shopping doing, he is 71 years of
age....................

debtmess

i have a lovely lady who lives the flat opposite mine, (converted semi houses) me and the boys have been fetching bits n bobs for her for the past few weeks now with the cold and wet, 2 days ago i shovelled all the snow to clear her path and also did her upstairs neighbours flats as she was scared to walk down them

yesterday they turned up at my door with a bin tin of quality street (i wish they hadn't) they seem surprised i don't want any form of payment for helping them

im going out anyway iykwim so helping is nothing to me yet means the world to my neighbour xxx im out most days so have now passed her my phone number not only so its easier for her to let me know the things she needs but also as she has only 1 son who works away if anything happens she has someone local she can call

[Deleted User]

My smashing next door neighbough has knocked several times during the week to make sure I had enough bread and milk and if I needed anything across at the shops .I do feel quite nervous about walking in the snow as I have to use a stick as I have a slight mobility problem.Not too bad if I get my car out and drive to the shopping precinct, but this weather even driving is a hazard, and I came home from Uni last Monday night and haven't set foot over the doorstep since .Hopefully as its thawing now I will be able to go out tomorrow and as usual go to see my DD and the tribe.
I shall make her a big tin of sausage rolls I think for Christmas as her husband is her carer as she has COPD and he bless him has been shovelling snow for all the older residents in the street.Neither of them work, and she has three teenage daughters and only one of them has managed to find a part-time job.So there are times when they find life a bit hard.I know she wouldn't accept any money but I think a tin of sausage rolls and a few mince pies might go down well for them as a treat

Lizzieanne

We asked our elderly neighbours if they needed anything from the shops yesterday - I was expecting 'milk, bread, potatoes...' so you can imagine how amusing it was to be asked to get '4 lemons and a very ripe mango...but don't get the mango if it's not ripe.'

gairlochgal

This sets my kids off.....we have elderly neighbour who occasionally asks us to pick up bread and cigarettes when she can't get to the shops. My 10 yr old is especially opposed to smoking and says we should refuse to get the cigs, and go and explain to this 89 yr old lady why it's bad for her to smoke.

sorryImoved

A few years ago after a big snow my husband went out to clear the sidewalks. He did ours and just kept going down the block. An older couple lived around the bend and when they saw my husband the man shouted out the window. Their doors were blocked shut by the snow drifts and they had not been able to get out all day. They had a huge dog and couldn't even let the poor thing out to do his business. They had neighbors next door to them and directly across the street but I guess no one had bothered to even look out a window or check on them. They were so happy my husband dug them out.I think it's an excellent idea to remind people to check on elderly people in their neighborhoods. Thank you Desperate for the reminder.

esmf73

Have been doing this with the lady a few doors up. She is very independant, but her husband isn't so well, and she must be in her 80s. Her sister lives down the road a bit, but on 19 November she fell and broke her leg, so shes in hospital. Its nice to do it - and in return she has let my children sledge on her field which is behind our house - its great as they're only little! And it means I don't have to go out - YIPEEEE

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

what lovely people you all are! Thank you for taking the time to be good neighbours. It could make all the difference to someones life

Pink.

Don't forget those who have pets who may need exercise. My next door neighbour isn't elderly but has had two hip replacements this year and has an energetic young pup. My own young pup (10 yr old boy) offered to walk her dog for her to save her risking a fall in the snow and ice, and has been doing it every day this week....though I must say he's probably had as much pleasure from it as our neighbour and it's given him the chance to get to know her better than he did before. So win/win situation for all concerned.

When this drops down the board I'll add it to the existing thread to keep the replies together.

Elderly neighbours in the cold weather

Pink

Churchmouse

That's lovely to read about the help given to neighbours, and especially Pink's pup, but then he's a real sweetie of a lad

Sad to have to say though, that knowing how judgemental some people can be about other people's shopping trolley, when we collected milk, bread etc for a few elderly neighbours, I felt compelled to recite loudly to my DH at the checkout "that's 2 pints for A, 4 pints for C, 1 pint for W and that's ours" etc :o Isn't it horrible that I've seen too many assumptions made on this site to feel it was necessary?? Still they were all pleased to get their goodies, made the time spent digging the car out worthwhile. Of course the thaw started the next day :rotfl: