Bighearted readers of The Royal Gazette have donated thousands of dollars in little more than a week to help an elderly widow with dementia receive care in her own home.The LCCA (Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association), which has agreed to collect money to assist Mrs O, said it had received $3,400 from members of the public touched by the 98-year-old’s plight.Meanwhile, an anonymous donor has pledged to pay for Meals on Wheels for the senior for the rest of her life.The cash collected by the LCCA will be used to pay for professional caregivers to attend to Mrs O in the home where she has lived for almost a century but more is needed to assist her long-term.This newspaper revealed on December 14 how Mrs O, who also has diabetes, had no relatives willing to look after her and no savings or assets to pay for caregiving.She was ruled ineligible for financial aid from Government because she has a life interest in the property where she lives, though it is owned by her great-nephew and great-niece.A former employer, Ms H, has been paying for three hours of professional care a day for Mrs O but can no longer afford to as she herself has been diagnosed with a serious illness and is facing large medical bills.Our article told how Mrs O slept each night in a hard-backed chair in her kitchen on an incontinence pad, as she was unable to put herself to bed. She had to be locked into her home after being found wandering in her yard in just a diaper and vest.Reader Liz Stewart read the story and acted promptly, visiting Mrs O and arranging for additional care so she could be put to bed each night.The at-home care costs significantly less than a place at the $13,800-a-month Continuing Care Unit at King Edward VII Memorial. But it is still likely to be in the region of $3,000 to $4,000 a month.Ms Stewart, a senior vice president at Alterra Bermuda, is urging members of the public to give generously to the fund to ensure Mrs O can live out her final days at home with the care she needs.She said: “We have had a good response so far for fundraising for Mrs O and many people are getting their places of employment to match their donation.“A few companies I have approached have agreed to hold a denim day to help raise funds. However, much more is needed so I would encourage everyone who is able to donate a little something. Whatever they can manage will go a long way.”Ms Stewart said several people had offered to donate their time and look after Mrs O for free. “This is in addition to their regular working hours,” she added. “This is greatly appreciated and it is wonderful to know that there are such caring people in our community.”She issued a plea for Bermuda to start looking after all of its seniors properly.“The community has a moral obligation to look after the elderly, just as we have a moral obligation to care for our children,” she said.“Often, however, it seems the elderly are overlooked and not given as much attention or protection, despite the fact they are equally as vulnerable.“All of us will be elderly one day and would want to know there is someone there for us; no one should forget that fact. Look at your neighbours, see if they need help and see what you can do.“In this economic climate we face, we all need to be there for each other and those ‘that have’ need to help those that are struggling. This is about compassion in our society for one another.”One citizen embodying that notion is the anonymous donor willing to pay for Mrs O to receive Meals on Wheels for the rest of her life.Joe Gibbons, the charity’s chairman, said the person made a call after reading the story in this newspaper.“We have a donor who is paying for the meals indefinitely,” he said. “The meal delivery started on Monday this week. It’s one hot meal a day, four days a week. Right now, it’s a hot soup, a hot meal and a dessert.”Mr Gibbons said the meals cost $5.50 each but the charity helps those who can’t afford the price.“We will still assist them,” he said. “We do provide about a third of our meals free of charge.”Ms Stewart plans to visit Mrs O today with Christmas gifts, while the senior will spend Christmas Day with Ms H and her family.lAnyone wanting to make a donation towards Mrs O’s care needs to specify that to the LCCA. Donations can be mailed or delivered to the LCCA at the following addresses: LCCA, PO Box HM 64, Hamilton, HM AX or LCCA, 26 Bermudiana Road, International Ctr Suite 211, Hamilton, HM 11.Donations may also be made to LCCA account #010-287-209-001 at HSBC. Please follow up your deposit by calling the LCCA on 292-1132 to advise the amount deposited and to specify that the funds are for Mrs O.Meals on Wheels can be contacted on 236-1815.