Helping the Elderly Through the Pandemic

Thank you WREG News Channels for having our President/ CEO, Melanie Keller, on your Live at 9 on December 30th. In this video interview, Melanie Keller shares helpful tips on how you can help the elderly and your loved ones during this time. She also discusses ways to prevent financial exploitation and abuse.

There are several resources that help your loved one feel special, cared about, and connected to the community during this time.

1. You can write a handwritten letter to one of the seniors served at Meritan. Please email your interest to Chessie Hayes at chessiehayes@meritan.org.

2. The Tennessee Care Through Conversation Program recognizes that older adults and caregivers are facing many hardships due to COVID-19. Each week, they can have a volunteer call and check on you or a loved one. During these calls, we will check-in, assess your needs, and see if there is any way we can better assist you. At a minimum, their volunteers will conduct one call a week, but you can request more if you need it. If you would like to be added to our telephone reassurance registry, please click this link to register.

3. You can be a volunteer and write letters with stories and words of encouragement through the Tennessee Care Messages program. These letters will be mailed to senior center participants and nursing home residents. To sign up, click this link to register.

4. The Tennessee Cheerline offered through the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability is a free phone line that offers a recorded message with trivia questions and interesting facts. Call the "Tennessee Cheer Line" at 833-919-0840 to participate.

5. You can also visit your loved one through the window outside of a facility or the senior’s home. That contact and communication matters.

Here are some ways to prevent financial exploitation and abuse. Our elderly are extremely vulnerable during this time. Abuse can flourish during this pandemic.

1. Please call the APS Hotline Toll-Free at 1-888-APS-TENN (1-888-277-8366) to report it, or, you can report suspected abuse online at our secure site: https://reportadultabuse.dhs.tn.gov/ 

2. You can also call Meritan (901) 766-0600.

3. You can explain to your loved ones to not give out personal information over the telephone. No one will call for your Medicare information to sign up for the vaccine. Please remind our seniors to be aware of what information they give out on the telephone.

Watch the video below from WREG News Channel to learn more. #COVID19 #pandemic #elderly #olderadults

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