Stop Injustices Toward Our Elderly, Disabled

Sat., April 11, 1998

Janet Blessing Special To Opinion

I have worked as a social worker for almost six years helping the elderly and disabled. Recently we had a client who was on disability but was suddenly cut off, thus she was homeless. Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs was able to put her up in a motel for about two weeks. After that, she called to see if we could help her find housing, otherwise she said she could live in her car.

Every place I called had certain stipulations. Some shelters were for women and children only. Some were for just men. No one would take animals. It seemed as if there were roadblocks everywhere. I was able to get about $150 from other agencies and churches which was great, but it was just another Band-Aid.

The isolation of the elderly and disabled in our society is an injustice that needs to be remedied. We as a community should look at the limitations society puts on people without even knowing it. Everyone agrees that homelessness, hunger, abuse and other social ills are injustices that we as a society should not tolerate, but little is written about the injustices suffered by the isolated elderly and disabled.

Why are their needs ignored? Is it a lack of respect or denial? The feeling of worthlessness, boredom and depression that many isolated people suffer are an injustice, too.

We need to educate our community about this terrible problem. Isolation is life-threatening. People cannot be whole persons when they are deprived of relationships, as well as dignity and basic human rights.

I have not heard from my client for about two weeks, so I’m not sure what is happening now. There really was nothing more that I could do for her, which added to my frustration. What happened to my client could have happened to any one of us. We are all just one step away from losing our income.

So how can we end this atrocity? As a community we should reach out more to people. All social service agencies are in need of volunteers. One of the biggest needs is to help low-income elderly and people with disabilities stay in their own homes. Your help could be as simple as making one phone call a day or doing light housework, yard care, providing medical transportation or just visiting a shut-in.

A quote I keep above my desk says it all: “Even if you don’t feel you make a difference, act as if you do.”

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