Seniors

from page 8A a volunteer (with that skill set) in that area.”

The types of services that IVC routinely provides include yard work like trimming bushes, raking leaves and pulling weeds; cleaning windows, and changing screens and storm windows out; sweeping garages; and even taking the trash to the curb.

It also provides transportation to and from doctor appointments and grocery stores, as well as basic housekeeping, decluttering and organizing of rooms or closets, doing laundry, and washing dishes, along with minor home repairs such as plumbing, electrical and carpentry work, if they are small simple fixes.

“Regular housekeeping is a big need, because a lot of times people can manage in their own home, but they can’t do all the chores to keep up their home safely,” said Curro of Interfaith Volunteer Services, based in Roseville. “If you start having mobility issues, it’s much more difficult to clean a bathtub or a shower and do some of the heavier cleaning in your house. I think that is a real ongoing need that a lot of people have, and to hire a cleaning service is usually incred- ibly expensive for someone of a very limited income.”

The one service that they don’t provide frequently is lawn mowing services, because of the amount of equipment necessary to do so. However, the service might be possible if the person requesting it has a working lawn mower.

“We tend to describe the types of things we can do as something that you would ask a neighbor for help for. You know we don’t do anything too extensive. We don’t take on major repairs and renovations,” Curro said.

“You might be comfortable having your neighbor rake your leaves for you, but you wouldn’t ask them to put a new roof on your house. It’s kind of the neighbor helping neighbor level of services that we are able to provide.”

Last year the organization served close to 500 people and their families, approximately 300 of whom were in Macomb County, while 200 were in Oakland and St. Clair counties. Curro said the reason for that is simply the amount of volunteers they have available in each area. Services are not provided on a daily basis, but some services are provided once or twice a month, depending on the need.

IVC does not have any income require- ments but tends to focus its service offerings on those who would not otherwise be able to afford the help and who don’t have family to assist them.

“We are really trying to get to the people that are isolated and impoverished and just really need a helping hand, largely because our volunteers are doing this just from the kindness of their own hearts, and they want to help the people in the greatest need,” said Curro.

The Macomb County Office of Senior Services also offers a few programs to help seniors with chores such as seasonal yard cleanup and the Handy Helpers Program. The Handy Helper program offers light repair services such as replacing light bulbs, door locks, window catches, faucet washers and faucets. Program workers will also install screens, storm windows, window shades, curtain rods and weather stripping around doors, and caulk windows and repair furniture. Workers will provide heavy-duty cleaning of appliances, carpets and rugs. They scrub floors, wash walls, and clean interior windows that do not require a ladder to reach. They provide pest control and rodent services (except bed bugs) and install safety devices for seniors such as grip bars and bath chairs.

The Macomb County Office of Senior Services offers spring, summer and fall yard cleanup services. Volunteers rake leaves, clean flower beds, trim branches, wash exterior windows, and the like.

They do not provide snow removal services and will only provide lawn mowing services on a one-time basis if there is an “urgent need.”

However, some landscaping companies, such as Workhorse Services Lawncare and Landscaping, offer seniors a discount on lawn maintenance. Norm “Workhorse” Adams Sr., the owner of Workhorse Services, said seniors comprise about 80% of his business. He said that he always tries to give seniors a 10% discount on their lawn services. He offers lawn mowing, yard cleanup, small tree removal, bush and hedge trimming, etc.

“It’s kind of rewarding when you are able to help people who can’t help themselves,” Adams said.

One of his clients is an elderly couple; the man has cancer, and although he would like to cut the grass, he just physically can’t do it anymore. Adams said that the man will start to cut a path, and the wife will call Adams in to finish the job. “So, I really understand the problem that they go through.”

See SENIORS on page 11A