Dear Editor:
When you hear on your news that there will be a heat wave and the next part of the news is “look after a neighbour who is elderly,” what do you think?
What can you do to help?
First of all, call to be sure the neighbour is expecting you. Then ask if you can be of help (does she have a hydro outage, does she need help, does she have a battery operated light?) Then ask again if you can come over to help?
Then there is the problem of temperature. Does she have a fan? Does she have air conditioning? Does she know how to manipulate the controls? Ask again, “May I come over to help?”
Next there is the bad weather warning! Ask once again, “May I help?’ This is an other chance to be a big help. Invite her over or ask if she would like you for a little visit?
Of course you can be a big help any time.
A phone call or an actual visit will earn you a nomination as “good neighbour of the year.”
Sytske Drijber,
Rockwood