Dear Carol: My grandfather is 77. I don't see him as often as I'd like since I work in Minneapolis and he lives in Fargo. The rest of the family is in California. Grandpa's done very well, up until my last visit - always cheerful and lively. Now he seems much quieter and kind of lonely and forgetful. I'm afraid he is losing his will to keep on. He is healthy, according to his doctor. He doesn't have much money, but he has enough to get by. I think the fact that so many of his friends have died saddens him. He spends too much time alone in his home, reading the same things over and over. I really don't know how to help. - Chad
Dear Chad: It's always sad to see someone we love seem to just go through the motions of living. My take on this is that your grandfather is feeling like he's not needed anymore. Everyone needs a purpose to live a quality life. We need to feel like we matter. With this in mind, I contacted Teresa Huff of the Red River Valley Foster Grandparent Program. This program could give your grandfather the opportunity to fill a real need. Maybe you can encourage him to get involved. Read on for Teresa's information.
"The first goal of the Foster Grandparent Program, Chad, is to enable income-eligible persons age 60 and over to remain physically and mentally active and to enhance their self-esteem through continued participation in needed community services. The program's second goal is to enable children with either exceptional or special needs to achieve improved physical, mental, emotional and social development, thereby helping them reach social, behavioral, developmental, and educational goals. And the third program goal is to provide a stipend and other benefits which enable eligible people to participate as foster grandparents.
"This program is win - win. Not only does it benefit the children and families that are served; it also benefits the foster grandparents with the satisfaction they receive in helping children. They also get some extra income.
"The Foster Grandparent Program is free of charge to the children and families we serve. It is a program of the Corporation of National & Community Service. The Northeast Human Service Center is the sponsoring agency for Eastern North Dakota. For more information contact me, Teresa L. Huff, coordinator at (701) 271-3247 or (800) 450-1510."
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Resource: Are you missing out on benefits? Go to www.benefitscheckup.org . BenefitsCheckUp, a service of the National Council On the Aging, helps find programs that may pay for some of the costs of prescription drugs, health care, utilities, and other essential items or services for people 55 and over.
To submit questions to "Minding Our Elders" and view past columns, go to www.in-forum.com and click on Columnists. Readers can reach Bursack at cbursack@forumcomm.com or write her at The Forum, Box 2020, Fargo, ND 58107.
