Title: Advice for caring for aging population

" It works -- TCI -- amber a weekly conversation about people in need and what you can do about it."

" Good works this Tuesday and take care of an aging population we're joined now ITC on a deer in president of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Boston good to have you here to -- to be here thinks that Kerry. That the aging and it's really important. Four people certainly who are alone to have somebody who's checking on them."

" Absolutely. You know it's important for their personal safety for the health and well being also for their mental I think people don't realize that. In in the older years isolation. Lack of human contact can actually lead to depression and help speed up memory loss. This is really important to quality of life for seniors. Particularly those who are living alone and nonprofits certainly play a role yes they do you know -- non profits usually are focused on health and well being. They do everything from meals to. Medical visit making sure that the Tuesday polls are taken on Tuesday checking in to make sure that people are well have fallen haven't had an accident. And just providing. Human touch. And that did it have to be in home visitation what can you do well in visitation is actually a great thing you can call. You can check in but there are great volunteer opportunities that go along with in home visitation. You know it's everything from the meals on wheels programs to the friendly visitors programs also. Being part of a program -- that your local council on aging may do where seniors can get out -- complaint being that they can leverage they can do social events slide presentations. All of those things are really important to help seniors especially again those who are living alone now. To stay engaged in their communities and thinking you have personal stories of course yes we do and you know one that really sticks with me actually comes from. Our food pantries where we had a senior on that fixed income. So he came on a regular scheduled for page because frankly didn't have enough without. And one -- kind. And one of our food pantry workers so disturbed by the fact that he didn't come that that night on her way home from work she stopped check and sure enough he had fallen. Couldn't get to the phone and was just stuck there and it really underscores the importance of having people available to check on those who -- I know that there are some services. Where you can have a phone call coming in every night at a certain time and it's some sort of a countywide. Service to check in on on the aging that is -- some council on aging at the savior of the -- level have put those kinds of programs in place. But this is also a great chance -- participated -- that. With your own family members made your extended family members who you may notice as you do we know in other states who are on their own. Or just to get involved -- it with the community this is actually that's a great way visiting especially to get kids involved -- he degrees exaggerations. And where can people get more information the easiest places either calling a town hall and get the phone number for your council on changing call them or you could go to the website for the national association. Of agencies on aging. And now have a state by de listing of the programs in your state he's and then go to their website to see how you can get -- if you have an elderly neighbors speak up. Clean that up. Can't visit. We call my husband's 89 year old aunt who lives alone and Virginia every night. She says many times -- first person I talked to all day in this incredibly important RIT -- Gary thanks so much for being here from Catholic Charities and you."