Our Senior Citizens Need Help! 

Will You Be The One That Says Yes To Them?

Hurricane Katrina left many Senior Citizens homeless and without funds to rebuild or relocate.  They lost their homes of twenty, thirty and even more than forty years.  Understandably, they do not want to leave the neighbors and neighborhood they know and love.

According to Barry Yeoman (AARP magazine September/October, 2007) “When the monster hurricane ravaged the Gulf Coast, its older residents were hit hardest.  Two years later, they are still fighting despair and searching for hope. Their own houses are uninhabitable; their savings are gone; their friends and relatives have scattered. Depression and stress disorders are common. As time goes on, mental health needs just continue to escalate.”  Many people suffered severe damage, and in many cases, complete loss of their homes and belongings.  To date there are still more that 17,000 travel trailers and mobile homes supplied by FEMA in service and  as many as 12% of those units are occupied by individuals 65 years of age and over.  They have become isolated from their normal neighborhoods, churches and families and are experiencing feelings of loneliness, rejection, worry, depression and persistent stress.  Yet, because they are not overtly suicidal or swinging from the rafters, they are not receiving the time and attention they need to be able to know that they are not alone and that their feelings are legitimate and important to somebody.

“Before the storm, people were independent and on their own,” says Barry Dixon, Director of the Area Agency on Aging, in Gulfport, Mississippi.  “Now, they need someone to take care of them.  They suffered psychologically and physically, and after the storm they became more (sic) frail.”  It was especially difficult for our citizens over age 65 for several reasons. At this age most individuals are no longer a part of the active work force and are living on Social Security, retirement income, savings or other forms of relief. The loss of their home represents the loss of the bulk of their assets and security. As a result, many of these individuals feel burdened by many concerns and unanswered questions. It is envisioned that the proposed program will address these issues.  Compounding the problems imposed by the hurricane are the general problems that come with aging like sickness, frailty, insomnia, depression, death of loved ones and friends, etc.  These did not stop when the hurricane hit.

Our Senior Citizens have given a lot.  

Now they need a lot. 

If you give even a little it will mean a lot to them.