There's an adage that goes, "it takes a village to raise the children". Well, it takes a village to ensure that our older adults are heard. We can do that by observing nonverbal actions, conversing with them, and ensuring that they feel safe and appreciated.
We realize that older adults living independently in apartment settings may experience threats of eviction just for asking to have a water faucet, air-conditioning system, or broken lock repaired. We are aware that some older adults have been told by their property managers that too many repair requests submitted to the management office may impact the size of their bonuses. The boomerang impact is that the true number of repair orders submitted to management does not reflect the true state of disrepair. Older adults with very severe breathing conditions have had to spend the entire summer without their air condition system getting fixed for this very reason.
Children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, and friends, all of us have a responsibility to ensure that our loved ones receive the services they so deserve. Advocate on their behalf.
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