5 Ways to Give Charitably to the Elderly (Without Making it Seem Like Charity)

If you missed the stats in my post about care baskets for the elderly, you need to know this;


Over 4 million senior citizens live in a state of poverty. 


Over 5 million seniors either don't have enough to eat, or are worried that they won't be able to buy food if they run out.


Poverty is a nasty epidemic, and it can be especially hard on those who are unable to "work themselves out of it". Personally, I hate that phrase, since lots of hardworking people still live below the poverty line. And many of the seniors who are poor are still working too.


Luckily, there are plenty of good-hearted people in the world willing to donate money, food, goods, and time to help those who are in need. The problem is that many of the people who need charity the most are reluctant to accept it.


When providing (or attempting to provide) charity to the elderly, you may be met with hostility, indifference, or outright denial that help is needed. It can be a huge blow to the pride to need help from others--more so for those who have always managed to take care of themselves.


So how do you help someone who won't admit they need it?


First of all, by being diplomatic. And maybe a little sly. There are ways to provide a helping hand without being obvious.Even if a person knows what you are doing, they might be appreciative of the fact that you are trying very hard to be discreet, rather than just sticking money in their face.


Holidays, birthdays and special occasions are the perfect times to attempt to help someone who is in need. Providing charity in the form of gift giving is more acceptable to someone who feels that it threatens their dignity.


Here are 5 ways you can help a senior citizen, without making it seem like charity:

1. Care Packages

I've covered how to make a care basket for the elderly, containing both edible goods.  These baskets can be as large or as small as you want, depending on the gift recipient.


The important part is to make them look like a gift. Wrap it in pretty paper. Decorate it with cellophane. Top it with a bow. Then add a card that says something like:


"To a special friend"


Much better than a cardboard box with a note like:


"Figured you might need this."

2. Gift Cards

Either given alone, or included in the care basket, gift cards can be very helpful...depending on the card. Seniors who are barely able to pay their bills might appreciate a card that can be used on groceries more than a card for a restaurant. However, including both does make it seem more like a true gift.


A thoughtful combination might be, for example, a $50 Walmart card, a $25 restaurant card, and a $25 card for a clothing store, shoe store or hardware store.

3. Small Luxuries

Know someone who might be able to just manage on food and bills, but has nothing left over at the end of the day for any type of "fun" item? If you know their interests, you can bring them a little joy very easily:

• Subscribe to a magazine in their name
• Work out a book swap so that they can get new books to read without having to leave the house
• Find people willing to donate hobby items 
• Round up used puzzles and games

All you have to say is:


"I thought you might like these items, because you always talk fondly of sewing/reading/etc. "


Then ask if they could teach you to knit or play their favorite card game.

4. Give Them Charity to Give to Others

There are quite a few seniors who live in poverty, yet never let it show in public. They may still be very active in their community, and may even be part of food drives and other events to help the needy, helping to take care of others while they themselves are short on money, food, clothes, etc.


If you suspect this may be the truth about someone you know, give them the opportunity to choose charity for themselves, in the privacy of their own home. Simply round up items to donate, (enlist the help of others) and take them to the person. Ask them to donate the items to people that they know who are in need.


When you are gone, they have the choice to keep what they need and pass along the rest.

5. Companionship and Help Around the House

Not all charity has to be monetary. Donating your time, your friendship and your listening ear can be just as helpful to the elderly. Ask around at local churches and senior programs to see if their are any elderly shut ins that would enjoy visitors.


Once you know them a little better and feel comfortable, you can offer to pitch in and help them tidy up a bit, or run a few errands for them. (maybe slip a few extra groceries into the bag while you are shopping for them.)


You can also offer to do things for them such as minor home repairs or car maintenance. They might not be able to afford to hire someone to do these things. Fixing a leaky pipe or airing up their tires could save them a lot of money later on, and help them stay safe too.

Be Wise With Your Charitable Donations

There are so many ways we can reach out and help those who need it the most. Besides these ideas, you can donate directly to organizations that collect food, money, and clothes for the poor.

Do be leery though. Some non-profit places don't always give everything back to someone who needs it. Tons of clothes and household items that are in perfectly fine condition will go no farther than the dumpsters out back, simply because volunteers didn't want the trouble of sorting them.

This is one reason I prefer to give directly to another person. As long as there is a single person out there who can't afford to buy a new outfit or a skillet or a new lamp, then these items should never go in the trash. Even if someone who "doesn't need them" gets hold of them, they will eventually be passed along one way or another.

I'm also not fond of places that charge for donated items when some people cannot afford even thrift store prices.

If you do go through a charity, do your research and make sure help is truly going where it is needed.