SAN MATEO — Barbara Bollier, a 93-year-old San Francisco native, mentioned she solely made valentines for one individual: her husband. And though he’s not alive, this yr was no completely different.
She lives at Dawn of San Mateo, an assisted dwelling facility for senior residents. On Friday, in-home senior care supplier Senior Helpers sponsored a card drive for residents to assist alleviate the loneliness some would possibly really feel on Valentine’s Day. Bollier’s card was lined in heart-shaped stickers, and he or she wrote her late husband a message: “Happy Valentine’s Day (wherever you are).”
In line with former U.S. Surgeon Basic Vivek Murthy, loneliness, isolation and the dearth of connection is a public well being disaster within the nation. This lack of connection can have bodily well being penalties, together with a 29% elevated danger of coronary heart illness and a 32% elevated danger of stroke.
“Social isolation can be very prevalent in the elderly community, so going to places where maybe their family is far away, just bringing that sense of connection to the seniors is important to us,” mentioned Senior Helpers spokesperson Rebeca Gonzalez.
Senior Helpers workers present in-home look after senior residents by serving to them with each day dwelling actions. The group serves individuals dwelling on the Peninsula from San Francisco to Sunnyvale. Gonzalez mentioned a department in San Jose additionally serves communities all through the South Bay.
On the occasion Friday, Gonzalez and Dawn workers set out pink and pink cupcakes and cups of ice cream. Gonzalez additionally introduced cardstock paper, markers, glue and stickers for the residents to make Valentine’s Day playing cards. Some wrote variety messages for the staff, thanking them for establishing occasions, whereas others addressed theirs to family members.
“I think they’re doing their best they can here to make it a nice day, too,” Bollier mentioned.
Gonzalez additionally handed out colorfully embellished playing cards that she had collected from pals who work with kids.
“It is very thoughtful of you guys to remember people who are in the facility, and strangers at that,” mentioned resident Pilar Sabalvaro. “We don’t know you, but I think you are very thoughtful of the older people that are in residence here.”
In line with a College of Michigan Nationwide Ballot on Wholesome Getting older in January 2023, one-third of seniors mentioned they felt remoted, felt a scarcity of companionship and have rare social contact.
Sabalvaro, who resides at Dawn together with her husband, mentioned she had “no choice” however to reside on the facility, including that it could not really feel proper to drive her kids to look at over her as a result of that will be “selfish” and so they have their very own lives.
“You feel lonesome because the contact is different,” Sabalvaro mentioned. “They’re busy, they come, they give the most they can, and I know that they give the best that they know how, so that is comforting.”
Bollier mentioned she doesn’t actually really feel lonely ever, however that’s as a result of her household is “really good” to her.
“I’m lucky in that way, because there’s some people that don’t have that,” Bollier mentioned. “If I hadn’t chosen to have a family, I wouldn’t have the family I do now.”
Nevertheless, Sabalvaro mentioned she took the provide to attend the Valentine’s Day occasion due to the group it offered.
“If you are by yourself at home, it’s very lonesome and there is no activity,” she mentioned.
