Widows & Widowers Support Group

This community is dedicated to those who have lost a husband, wife, or partner. Anything is open for discussion here, with the hope that we can focus on grief, bereavement, life after loss, and continuing on after a great loss.

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Darlene-Newman 11/15/2013

I am hoping to get ideas on some worthwhile things to do or to help other people with that do not require good eye sight or the ability to walk around a lot. My very poor eye sight, low energy & a bad hip has kept me from doing many things I would like to try. Today I found out these situations are going to be prolonged for an undetermined amount of time.

I am struggling with the loneliness of being at home by myself too much of the time and also the feeling of no purpose. I am just not sure what type of volunteer or other activities that could be done with the current limitations that I have.

Your suggestions will be gratefully received. Thank you in advance..

silverfoxwife 11/15/2013

How about joining arts and craft group, form a cooking club to share recipes?

Comfortablynumb 11/15/2013

Support or intervention type volunteer over the phone, maybe?

athankfulone 11/15/2013

Hospitals and children's receiving homes often need "rockers or "grandmas" for the newborns.

Join or start a book club, and use the audio books.

cliffskat 11/15/2013

If you are still able to read, perhaps large-print books, you can volunteer to read portions of books that are made into audio books. You don't have to read an entire book, just as much as you feel comfortable doing. These are books which are "in the public domain" - and you can find the info at LibriVox - and you can also download audio books for free there, too. Here is a link:

http://librivox.org/

If you belong to a church or faith group, check with your pastor. There is always a need for extra hands, especially at this time of year, and often church groups are better able to help you with mobility/transportation issues.

You might also check with your local public library to see if they need volunteers for reading to kids and toddlers. One nice thing about children's books is that they are usually large print and easy to read!

Hope these help....

Love and Hugs,
Martha

sandeestttn 11/15/2013

When I was a kid, and in Girl Scouts. We used to go visit a nursing home or two. All we did was make crafts, took them to residents. The most important thing was we sat, and visited with the residents. They are so lonely, and most don't have visitors. They got to where they waited for us to come on our visits, and would actually, look forward to it. IF I could emotionally do it now, I would...

jewells1 11/15/2013

Many good idea's here. I am taking some classes to qualify me for a Art therapist. It will be awhile, but it gives me things to fill my waking days. Mobility is also a problem for me. There is also grants for paying for elder education programs. I take lecture type since I learn better that way. Check with you office on aging for volunteer opportunities in your area. Maybe a ride along in crisis with families, children often get caught in the middle, and a "Grandma type" is so needed for them to deal with it. We have a D. A. center that is often looking for comfort personnel, a listening ear for those there.

The same goes with places like Ele's place.

It's good that you are looking for avenues to explore.

J.

kynessie 11/15/2013

Hi Darlene,
I am so, so sorry that you are going through this. One thing I am doing is that I am an online/phone support for caregivers with my husband's disease. We do phone conferences every quarter and discuss ideas.

I'm the only support/mentor that is experienced with bereavement. I've been contacted by caregivers who want to know what to expect near the end of life with their partner/relative.

I do all of this by phone/email/snail mail.

Nessie from KY

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