Mary lives in a pleasant suburban home in Issaquah. She is the sole caretaker of her husband who has Alzheimer's. While fending for her husband has been difficult, she has been able to cope.
Then she got a diagnosis of cancer. Suddenly, everything went topsy-turvey. She's used to being the one who is providing care, not giving it. She's suddenly faced with even more things to overcome.
She contacted Faith in Action because she knew she couldn't do it alone. She needed help sorting out all the resources out there. As a household, there's enough money to hire some paid in-home care, but she can't afford to pay for everything. Sitting down with our client services coordinator and assessing what Faith in Action could do for her, what other agencies could do for her, and what a private care company could do, was really reassuring, as she embarks on this next chapter of her life.
Your donations make this help available to the elders in our community. On their behalf, we thank you for your support.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Sheila
Sheila lives in a small home in the Snoqualmie Valley. Like many of our clients, she lives solely on social security and disability payments, which means her income is just over $8000/year. Initially she called Faith in Action for help getting to medical appointments. While she would qualify for Access, Metro's transportation program for the disabled, Access can't serve her because there's no place on her rural road for the van to pull over or turn around.
When Laura, our client services coordinator, did a home visit with her, more needs were uncovered. The wood steps to her home were rotten and needed repair; her deck was covered with slime and was slippery; her garden needed a major clean-up; and she could not keep up with her housework.
Since that initial visit, Faith in Action sent out a volunteer handyman, and her steps are now repaired. A team of volunteers did a deep clean of her home; rearranged some furniture for her, and got started on the yard. The Sammamish Rotary Club will lend Faith in Action a power washer, and now all we need to do is find a volunteer who can use it to de-slime her deck. And, she's gotten those rides to the dentist that she so desperately needed, and is no longer in pain. I just looked on our phone log, and can see that she's finally getting her eyes checked, too, next week.
Sheila's a deeply religious woman. Her interests listed on her intake sheet specify singing hymns and reading her Bible. She has called us several times to thank us and God for the volunteers we have sent her way. "Praise the Lord all day long!" is one of her favorite phrases.
We also thank our volunteers, for their service - and thank you, too, for your support of Faith in Action. Caring people like you, and all our supporters, improve the lives of isolated elders like Sheila.
When Laura, our client services coordinator, did a home visit with her, more needs were uncovered. The wood steps to her home were rotten and needed repair; her deck was covered with slime and was slippery; her garden needed a major clean-up; and she could not keep up with her housework.
Since that initial visit, Faith in Action sent out a volunteer handyman, and her steps are now repaired. A team of volunteers did a deep clean of her home; rearranged some furniture for her, and got started on the yard. The Sammamish Rotary Club will lend Faith in Action a power washer, and now all we need to do is find a volunteer who can use it to de-slime her deck. And, she's gotten those rides to the dentist that she so desperately needed, and is no longer in pain. I just looked on our phone log, and can see that she's finally getting her eyes checked, too, next week.
Sheila's a deeply religious woman. Her interests listed on her intake sheet specify singing hymns and reading her Bible. She has called us several times to thank us and God for the volunteers we have sent her way. "Praise the Lord all day long!" is one of her favorite phrases.
We also thank our volunteers, for their service - and thank you, too, for your support of Faith in Action. Caring people like you, and all our supporters, improve the lives of isolated elders like Sheila.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Jean
Jean lives in an apartment in downtown Issaquah, with her little dog, "Apple", who is the apple of her eye. She came to Faith in Action through the recommendation of her neighbor, who is also a Faith in Action client.
Jean doesn't drive any more, and needs rides to medical appointments. While she lives close to the market such that she can walk there, she can't carry back anything heavy, or very many groceries at a time. She also is having difficulties keeping up with her housework. Her apartment is small, but it could use a good cleaning and airing out. It wouldn't take much to make it feel fresh, and sparkling again.
Jean doesn't have family, except for a sister in another state. There is no one here who can help her - exceptFaith in Action. Jean is hoping we can match her to a volunteer for shopping and housekeeping, and then she will be calling us for rides for medical appointments.
Your donations mean that we can recruit volunteers that can help low-income seniors like Jean. Thanks to you, they can live in health and dignity. On their behalf, we thank you for your support.
Jean doesn't drive any more, and needs rides to medical appointments. While she lives close to the market such that she can walk there, she can't carry back anything heavy, or very many groceries at a time. She also is having difficulties keeping up with her housework. Her apartment is small, but it could use a good cleaning and airing out. It wouldn't take much to make it feel fresh, and sparkling again.
Jean doesn't have family, except for a sister in another state. There is no one here who can help her - exceptFaith in Action. Jean is hoping we can match her to a volunteer for shopping and housekeeping, and then she will be calling us for rides for medical appointments.
Your donations mean that we can recruit volunteers that can help low-income seniors like Jean. Thanks to you, they can live in health and dignity. On their behalf, we thank you for your support.
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