What is your idea of a good neighbor? Is it someone who keeps an eye on your house when you are not home? Is it someone who responds when you need help? Perhaps it is simply being friendly and saying “Hello” when you are out for a walk.

A good neighbor may be defined differently by different people. But there is one thing on which most people agree when it comes to good neighbors—everyone needs one!

There may be no one who needs a good neighbor more than a senior in your neighborhood who:

• Lives alone
• Suffers with a disability or impairment
• Is unable to go out
• Has difficulty doing chores
• Seems lonely

Are you a good neighbor? On September 28, celebrate National Good Neighbor Day by going out of your way to do something special for a senior in your neighborhood. Here are some ideas for being a good neighbor to a senior on National Good Neighbor Day:

Take the Initiative

Is there a senior who is new to your neighborhood? On September 28, take the initiative to introduce yourself. Just saying “Hello” and being welcoming can break the ice to begin a new friendship with someone who needs a good neighbor.

Take Care of a Chore

If there is a senior in your neighborhood who has difficulty performing chores safely, offer to help. Take the trash to the curb; bring in the mail; mow the lawn, or clean the front path of leaves and debris so your senior neighbor will be safe going in and out of the home.

Make It a Group Effort

If you feel uncomfortable taking the initiative or performing chores by yourself, gather a group of neighbors to make a visit or complete yard work for a senior. Being welcomed by a group is comforting and reassuring for a senior who is new to the neighborhood. And chores are always easier with more people!

Make It Anonymous

It is a special act of kindness that is performed anonymously. Surprising a senior by mowing the lawn or cleaning the yard when the senior is not at home conveys the message that, “We are here for you because we want to be.” Be sure the chore you perform is one that your senior neighbor would be happy to have done. Not everyone wants their house painted!

Offer an Invitation

Are you planning a get-together with family and friends or a neighborhood block party? Invite a senior in the neighborhood who does not have family or visitors. It is a perfect time to get to know each other and make new friends.

Make a Kind Gesture

Being a good neighbor doesn’t have to be time-consuming, expensive, or burdensome. It only takes a simple act of kindness, like sharing your next batch of baked goods, delivering treats for a senior’s pet, or just dropping a note in the mailbox that says, “We are so happy to have you as our neighborhood.”

On September 28, think of what makes for a good neighbor, and then be that good neighbor for a senior in your neighborhood. It will make a senior feel good, and it will make you feel even better!

For Senior Care Services in Atoka TN, please contact the caring staff at Personal Care Services MidSouth today!