Elderly In Need

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Story Published: Oct 9, 2008 at 5:29 PM PST

By Audrey Asistio

YAKIMA COUNTY -- Ninety-four year old Sally Frye tells Action News, "I was having trouble with high blood pressure and was getting dizzy and falling down, so I've got a pacemaker now."

She needs the pacemaker and a lot more medication too. It's costing her a lot to stay healthy and luckily, she has insurance.
But many seniors aren't as fortunate. The Volunteer Chore Services, a program from Catholic Family and Child Services, tries to help those people.

Program Coordinator LouAnn Desgrosellier explains, "about 70% of our clients have an income of about $700. Some have less and some a little more.”

From medication to daily vitamins, their clients are needing more of it just to stay healthy. But with the prices going up, Desgrosellier says some of her clients are having to use their entire income just to get what they need every month."

That can leave a choice between medicine or a meal. The volunteer program helps these people out.

"They help with transportation, they help with housework, home repairs, building wheelchair ramps and so forth," says Dorothy Morales

The program helps about 600 elderly and disabled people in Yakima County.

Sally Frye tells Action News, "I can't see or drive or get around. I can't see when I go to the store so I have to send someone to take me."

Getting all the help she needs, Sally says it reminds her of living through the Great Depression. She says it was the helping hands that got her through the hard times.

Volunteer Chore Services is always looking for more help, so if you would like to volunteer, you can call their office: (509) 965-7100 or (800) 246-2962.

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