DEAR ABBY: I would like to tell "A Friend in Chicago," who was concerned because a family refused to take their 92-year-old grandmother to the doctor, that there is an agency serving people over 60.
In 1965, the Older Americans Act was enacted by Congress. It allocated funding for numerous "Area Agencies on Aging" across the United States. They are listed in local phone books. They provide resources for transportation, home-delivered meals, respite care, income tax preparation, medication assistance, flu shots, heating and cooling assistance, homemaker services, housing, legal assistance, where to report suspected neglect or exploitation of elderly persons, and more.
They also help coordinate recreational activities, such as senior games: bowling tournaments, track, basketball free throw, golf, shuffleboard, and more. Senior centers across America provide numerous activities and services for both active and homebound seniors. They will, if asked, also provide daily telephone reassurance calls and/or weekly visits to ensure the safety and well-being of the senior in question. -- JENNIFER E. RABALAIS, SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE AREA AGENCY ON AGING
DEAR JENNIFER: I'm sure many people will be surprised and relieved to know that so much help is so close at hand. Thank you for writing.