Remember the elderly during holidays

Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, KY)

Nov. 22--During the holiday season, the focus tends to be on children.

But people of every age appreciate being remembered at Thanksgiving and Christmas, said Samantha Brand-Embry, community service representative for Home Instead Senior Care. There are unmet needs among the elderly, who can use some holiday cheer, too.

For at least seven years, Home Instead has hosted a program titled Be a Santa to a Senior. In the next week or so, holiday trees at Owensboro Walmarts, Krogers, Limestone Bank and Olive Garden, to name a few, will be decorated with ornaments that contain the names of area elderly residents and their wish lists.

This year, Brand-Embry said, the names of 1,000 residents will be on those trees. That's up from 800 last year.

People who want to participate will choose an ornament from a Be a Santa tree, buy one of the suggested gifts and attach the ornament to the gift before taking it back to the Be a Santa location. Every location with a tree will have a drop-off box for gifts.

Senior wish lists are never extravagant, Brand-Embry said. Often, they ask for toiletry items, cleaning supplies or food.

Home Instead wraps and delivers the gifts.

During delivery, some seniors comment it has been years since anyone remembered them during the holidays, Brand-Embry said.

"It brings them to tears," she said. "It's heartbreaking."

Home Instead works with up to 30 nursing homes and other agencies, such as Hospice of Western Kentucky, Green River Area Development District and Audubon Area Community Services, to locate needy seniors or those who are homebound and have no local family members.

Seniors are often overlooked during the holidays, said Dana Peveler, executive director of the Senior Community Center of Owensboro-Daviess County.

"Many seniors go without throughout the year to pay for medications, groceries, insurance premiums and utilities. A gift like a robe, hats, gloves, socks, wallets, belts, throws, pajamas, puzzles or whatever may be listed ... are likely items they wouldn't purchase for themselves," Peveler said.

SCC hosts holiday parties and special meals. The nonprofit also delivers holiday cards to senior citizens.

U.S. Bank will sponsor a luncheon for area seniors on Dec. 5 and 6 at SCC. Morrison Foods and Owensboro Health will sponsor a first-ever Supper with Santa.

The Owensboro Police Department provides holiday boxes filled with food and gifts for some local homebound seniors, Peveler said. Some churches partner with SCC to deliver holiday goodies to the elderly.

But the needs of the elderly community are growing, Peveler said. She hopes residents make an effort to help an elderly neighbor put up holiday trees and lights or take an aging friend something special to eat during the season.

"They've spent a lifetime making fun for us as we grew into having families of our own," Peveler said. "It is our turn to give them back the joy they gave us."

Renee Beasley Jones, 270-228-2835, rbeasleyjones@messenger-inquirer.com

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