HINTS FROM HELOISE

Dear Readers: “Dear Heloise:

Today’s SOUND OFF is about offering help without being asked. — Heloise

Why do friends and relatives who know they have a sick or elderly friend or family member wait to be asked before they agree to help? They offer thoughts and prayers. While that is very much appreciated, they seem to forget that there are regular chores that a relative needs help with. The relative may be too proud for his or her own good and might feel that asking is admitting weakness. Sometimes the person wants someone to say: ‘I see your yard needs to be mowed. Would you let me do that for you?’

“Just open your eyes, folks, look around and see where there’s a need, and offer to help.”