Moses Dixon’s Blog

There are many ways to give back to society, and they don’t need to be expensive. It is possible to impact another person’s life significantly without spending an excessive amount of money or time. Some types of help are labeled as charity or philanthropy. Contrary to popular belief, these two terms are not interchangeable. Charity is seen as a quick response to a disaster, rushing to help people in need. Philanthropy tends to examine big-world problems and tries to investigate ways to solve them long-term. Volunteerism is the donation of a person’s time or talent, without payment, to support a charitable cause or help individuals directly.

2020 was a challenging year for all of us, but Americans have found ways to adapt to the new normal, more or less. One of the demographics that was hit the hardest were senior citizens. In addition to being highly susceptible to the damaging effects of COVID, they also had to practice social distancing. This meant more than being away from other nursing home residents. It also meant solitude due to a lack of visitors. Many family events were also missed. Babies were waved at through glass partitions, and families were denied bedside vigils with their dying loved ones. 

According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS), over 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in America are divided into 11 categories. Senior assistance falls under the category of human services. The type of help seniors can range from assistance with household chores and meal preparation to getting transportation to medical appointments or other destinations. 

It is never too early to teach your children how to be productive, kind members of society. Empathy for others is a character trait that will lead them positively throughout their lives and remind them of all the things to be grateful for. One great way to demonstrate how committed you are to helping others is by volunteering in your children’s’ presence and having them alongside you as you donate time and compassion for others’ well-being. 

Seniors are people who are age 65 and up. Approximately 17 percent of the US population is considered to be of senior age. 1 in 5 Americans is 60 or older. They range from being completely independent to living in varying levels of assisted retirement communities. One of the unfortunate realities of life is that people get more isolated as they age. This happens as their friends age and die, as well as their spouse or partner. Even with a close, loving family, elderly people get accustomed to the new normal of adjusting to a more lonely lifestyle.