Our Kids - Our Carers?

The UK Daily Mail today has an article entitled "The door slams on good neighbours". This is a topic close to my heart. It mentions that research suggests that good neighbours are becoming a thing of the past in the UK. An average of one in five of those questioned felt they could not rely on their neighbours in an emergency, eight in ten thought their parents' generation placed a greater emphasis on caring for the local community and 16 per cent did not know the names of those living next door! It suggests a declining focus on community spirit, quoting that fewer than one in ten Britons regularly visits a neighbour and 40 per cent say their neighbour has never called on them.

I am a volunteer with the Worthing Good Neighbours in my home town, and we essentially befriend and make regular visits to lonely, isolated elderly people who have no family close by. We are often their only link with the outside world, and we can keep an eye on them and sort issues out for them when needed. Many just want someone to come and have a chat over a cup of tea.

Sometimes, in the school holidays, I take my daughter with me. Why? Partly because she wants to come, and partly because I believe it's good for her to meet with, build an understanding of, and learn from, an elderly person. She can learn so much. I think many young people, including myself up until recently, just don't understand what elderly people go through - loneliness, frailty and ill-health. Often it takes a close relative to suffer for us to become aware and sensitized to it.

There are so many community-spirited and caring people out there, who do care for and watch over lonely neighbours - they do a great job. But I think our communities are going to become even more disjointed if we don't do something about it. I think parents can do a lot to make their children aware of our older generation, who are often characterised as old-fashioned, boring, and rambling on about the War. In reality, they are very colourful characters - their lives have been far more interesting than any TV personality's life. And they can be great fun too!