Sometime during the night, 92-year-old Eleanor Angerami fell. She broke her leg. She was alone.
The next morning, Meals on Wheels volunteer Marilyn Skivinski arrived at Angerami’s home to deliver a meal. She heard Angerami’s cries for help and immediately took action.
“It was a great thing that she did and the family is very grateful for the Meals on Wheels representative who followed through and helped my mom,” said James Angerami.
First, Skivinski called the Senior Services Nutrition Services office to tell them a client had fallen and was unable to get up by herself. Then, she called Angerami’s family and Colonie police to tell them what happened. Skivinski couldn’t get into Angerami’s locked home but instead of leaving, she talked to the injured woman through the door and kept her calm until help arrived.
“It was a great thing that she did and the family is very grateful for the Meals on Wheels representative who followed through and helped my mom,” said James Angerami.
When paramedics arrived at the scene they thought Angerami’s hip might be broken, but it was later determined to be her leg. Jane Schramm, CEO of Senior Services of Albany, which runs Meals on Wheels, said the situation is a perfect example of how the not-for-profit organization’s benefit goes beyond providing healthy meals to area seniors.
“We are so thankful that we were able to assist Mrs. Angerami and get her the care she needs,” said Schramm in a statement. “People do not always realize just how important the Meals on Wheels program truly is for our elders. It is more than simply delivering nutrition. … We are the friendly extra eyes and ears that help to oversee the health and wellbeing of the seniors.”
MOW provides homebound seniors with hot meals and relies on a corps of volunteers to deliver the meals each day.
For more information about MOW or Senior Services of Albany, visit www.seniorservicesofalbany.com.
– Alyssa Jung
