He was a lovely old man. He always took the time to say hello and stop for a chat. You should never ask someone their age but I would gauge him about 90. Nothing ever stopped him, walking, shopping and getting his hair done, although it never needed doing as he was always well turned out. I knew he lived down the road somewhere and never really gave it a second thought. Every now and again I would see him and his walking stick in the town. I would always stop for a chat or a passing hello. I was a little shocked when he tooted me one day as he drove past! He was a right little warrior and nothing would get in his way.
I was quite surprised one year when we received a Christmas card from him. A lovely thought which prompted me to pop out and find out where he lived. I found out from the local barbers that he went to. A nice box of Christmas biscuits and a card delivered to his door. He was over the moon. I think he was more pleased that someone came to visit him. We had a chat on the doorstep for a few minutes where I gave him my number should he ever need anything. It was the least I could do as he was all alone. I didn’t poke my nose into his business but it was the right thing to do right?
Every now and again I would get the occasional phone call asking if I needed anything from the shops? It was meant to be the other way around. As the weeks and months moved on I discovered that he had a love for lemon drizzle cake so the wife set to work making him a nice cake so he could have with his afternoon tea. What’s a few eggs and a lemon I thought. It was never a problem for me as he only lived down the road.
It was another Christmas that I called and got no answer. I left a message asking if he was alright and assumed that he was on the phone or out in his car doing handbrake turns. I got a card and biscuit’s again and popped round. There was no answer at the door so I called the house phone. I could hear it ringing from the door step and thought he must be out again. I had been in this situation before but before I decided to kick the door in I went back and asked the barber if they had seen him recently. They hadn’t seen him and called another elderly bloke that he knew. he hadn’t heard from him either.
I had a moral obligation to do something so I went back to the house again and knocked even louder and rang on all three door bells. Why he had three I don’t know. I heard what I thought was a grown coming from inside, then some scuffling and some clattering by the door. A moment of relief when I realised that there was movement from inside.
The door opened very slowly and from behind the door was the frail old man looking in a poor state. Hair all over the place he didn’t really know what was going on. Are you alright bill I asked. Not really mate he said, I haven’t been able to get out and I’m feeling a bit down. Well I wasn’t going to have that so after he invited me in my soul purpose was to lift his spirits. Even by me being there I could see that he was starting to improve. There wasn’t a single light in his house and when I asked why he said that they had all blown and he couldn’t change them. I wasn’t going say that he should have called me because it had gone past that stage.
I changed all his lights so he could see at night as all he had been using was a torch which had now run out of batteries. I offered to make the tea and he gladly accepted. The kitchen was awful, rotten food on the floor, the sink was beyond filthy and the entire room was full of dead and living fruit flies. This was not good. I knew he was a proud man so I asked if I could just clean up a bit. Slightly embarrassed he agreed. I knew he didn’t want to but deep down I knew he was aware that he had let things slip.
After cleaning up as much as I could I sat down on the only clear chair in the place. Right bill, I’m going to get you some help. A few phone calls and a couple of hours later help was on the way. A local age concern charity and the local authority were coming to his aid. They spoke with bill and offered a variety of things, handles, alarm buttons and cords, cleaners and help with forms etc. I could see that he was happy that the much-needed help he craved for was on its way.
Bill told me that he wanted to move into a home where there were others just like him and with more help available at the press of a button. I felt like I didn’t want to get too much involved so I asked if he had any relatives. He had relatives about 20 miles away but had forgotten their number? A quick look in the diary and hey presto, there it was. The relative. I called them up and they thought bill had moved away and lost contact. How wrong they were. I was a little frustrated that they didn’t at least pop round like I did if they thought that, but it is what it is I suppose.
Relatives aware bill now lives in a lovely warden assisted place and couldn’t be happier. I still pop down to see him once a week or so and he still phones. How paths cross in life I thought. If I missed that first hello or his Christmas card was posted to the wrong address where would he be now. Bill had no one and now he has. He is reunited with loved ones and has an amazing circle of friends.
The sad thing is that there are thousands of elderly people out there that need your help. That simple hello or a ten-minute phone call. Never forget them as you will be old one day too. There are agencies, charity groups and help available if you have a concern about an elderly friend or relative. I did and Bill couldn’t be happier. I will leave you with this quote; – A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Take care
Never Stop Trying 