8 Form(2016) Module 3 The Elderly and the Homeless

Module 3 The Elderly and the Homeless

Before you abuse, criticise and accuse walk a mile in someone else`s shoes.

The city can be an unfriendly place at the best of times. Imagine then, how it might feel for the elderly or the homeless – people who are often marginalised by the rest of society.

The elderly sometimes feel incredibly embarrassed and lonely as if nothing about them is important except that they are old. They feel invisible and unwanted by society because people don`t want to talk to chatty senior citizens. Moreover, at the shops the assistants can be unfriendly as they can`t wait to get rid of them.

People also avoid looking at the homeless as they look terrible. Their eyes are red and puffy, their skin is pale and their hair is frizzy. In addition to this, they wear scruffy clothes. People are often rude to them. They are angrily told they have to leave if they walk into a café to use the toilet. People can become homeless because of family break-ups or terrible debts. Some people can`t get off the streets because they have no official identity.

We should remember that over the next 50 years, the number of elderly people in society will triple. We should treat them with respect because one day we will be old, too. The homeless also need our help, not our judgment. We could donate money to a homeless charity or volunteer at a soup kitchen.