2023-09-17 13:53:58
It’s not just seniors who go to Pieter Zandee. Recently, for example, a young man came by who felt threatened by his neighbors. But of course, most of those Zandee advises are 60 or older. “Many older people live alone,” says Zandee. “It is important that there is a place where they can express themselves and get their grief off their chest.” Because help is needed in the vast majority of cases.
It was also Zandee’s idea that there is now a place like this at Merianplatz in the Nordend. The 83-year-old native of the Netherlands had a helper gene even as a child and wanted to comfort other people when they were sad. He used to sit on the local advisory board for the Greens, and has been part of the Frankfurt Senior Citizens’ Council for more than 20 years, and is currently the deputy chairman.
The council consists of 17 members from each district and their deputies as well as a representative from the local foreigners’ representation. Elected by their local council or the local foreigners’ representative, the magistrate appoints them to their voluntary position.
Worry about full mailboxes
Since 2019, Zandee’s free consultation hours have been running at the district meeting point on Merianplatz, but then the pandemic came. “We weren’t allowed to do anything during that time. Now we have to slowly start again.” Zandee has had new opening hours since September: those seeking help can come by every Tuesday between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The old opening time from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. was unsuitable because people would go shopping or go to the doctor. Now he hopes that the advice center will become more popular.
Zandee is the contact point for everything, like a search engine for people who live without a smartphone: whether someone has problems with their family or needs to fill out a form or create a power of attorney. He recently helped a woman with a living will. “She had a migrant background and didn’t understand the official language.”
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Others come to him with concerns because they have observed something strange. For example, the neighbor’s overflowing mailbox that we haven’t heard from in a while. In such cases, Zandee listens and then explains who the concerned person can contact. The same applies to seniors who can no longer walk well and ask for offers of help.
He also advises if someone feels increasingly insecure; for example because he notices that he is becoming forgetful or even developing dementia. “They then want to know from me where they can find out more about assisted living.” In this case, it’s a control center in the Frankfurt senior citizens’ town hall, but it’s good to talk to them first about the best help.
The Northrend has changed in Zandee’s eyes. Landlords often prefer younger people, and many apartments are unsuitable for people with walking difficulties. The platforms, on the other hand, are largely barrier-free. However, many seniors were upset about e-scooters. “I don’t mind it myself,” says Zandee. “But people sometimes park completely carelessly.” For example, on the white stripes of the blind guidance system: “The city has to get there.” He would like to see scooter parking zones. And while I can’t change it myself, I can at least listen: “It’s good when the anger comes out.”
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