This summer, one of our team member’s 90-year-old neighbor fell in his front yard. It was during work hours and no one saw him or heard his cries for help. Fortunately, he was able to crawl to his front door, get to his phone and call for help. In the months since, he has reached out to various services and has created a safety net for himself. He is very lucky.

He prides himself on being independent and working hard his entire life. He has a helper, but there are still things that a good neighbor should do. This got us thinking about how to be a better neighbor, especially this winter.

Here are a few tips which might help you be a good neighbor too:

Just help: It may be difficult for many seniors to ask for help, having been independent their entire lives. Therefore, you need to make the first move. Visit your neighbor and ask what you can do. It may help to be specific such as, “I would be happy to bring your garbage can to the curb and put it back when I do mine. Would that be okay with you?”

Shovel snow: While this activity seems obvious and simple, it is extremely important — especially in areas of the country where ice tends to accumulate. Shovel the driveway even if the neighbor no longer drives. This provides safety for anyone visiting your neighbor and may make it easier for him to exit and enter his house through the driveway. Also shovel the walk ways, including a path to the mail box, if possible. If the neighborhood has a community mail box, offer to pick up his mail when you collect yours.

Visit and bring a meal: Most people don’t go outside in the winter as often as they do during other seasons, and seniors are no exception. A visit is extremely welcome during the cold, dark months. Bring a meal or leftovers when visiting. It doesn’t have to be a big production and can certainly help brighten his day.

Offer a lift to the store: You can give a ride to the store or offer to pick up a few things when you go. This simple gesture can really reduce the stress of having to drive or take public transportation that can be difficult in the winter. You can even offer a dinner invitation!

Go with your instinct: Every situation is going to be different, so pay attention to slight changes you may see at your neighbor’s house. For example, the neighbor discussed in this post always flies the American flag unless weather prohibits. When it’s not up in the morning, that’s a queue to stop by and check in. Most times it’s just a quick hello, but it makes both parties feel better.

Helping neighbors builds community, connection, and models good behavior for those around you. You may even find that you get more out of it than your neighbor!

Important Disclosure Information: The information contained within this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations. Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by Schultz Financial Group Incorporated), or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this blog will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this blog serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Schultz Financial Group Incorporated. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing. Schultz Financial Group Incorporated is neither a law firm nor a certified public accounting firm and no portion of the blog content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of the Schultz Financial Group Incorporated’s current written disclosure statement discussing our advisory services and fees is available for review upon request. Please Note: Schultz Financial Group Incorporated does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to Schultz Financial Group Incorporated’s web site or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility therefore. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly.