San Mateo-Barbara Bollier, a 93-year-old San Francisco, said that she only made Valentines for one person: her husband. And although he isn’t any longer alive, this 12 months was no different.
She lives at Sunrise from San Mateo, a facility for assisted living for seniors. On Friday, senior helpers for in-home senior care sponsored a card trip for the residents to alleviate the loneliness that some could feel on Valentine's Day. Bollier's card was covered with heart -shaped stickers and she or he wrote a message to her late husband: “Happy Valentine's Day (wherever they are).”
According to the previous American general surgeon Vivek Murthy, loneliness, isolation and lack of connection are a crisis of public health within the country. This lack of connection can have physical health consequences, including a 29% increased risk of heart diseases and an increased risk of stroke.
“Social isolation can be very widespread in the older community. It is therefore important to go to places where your family is far away to bring only this feeling of connection to the seniors,” said Rebeca Gonzalez, spokesman for senior Helpers.
Senior Helpers employees offer seniors for his or her homeland by helping them with day by day life activities. The organization serves individuals who continue to exist the San Francisco peninsula to Sunnyvale. According to Gonzalez, a branch in San Jose also serves municipalities in the complete South Bay.
At the event on Friday, the Gonzalez and Sunrise employees made Red and Rosa Cupcakes and cups of ice cream. Gonzalez also brought Cardstock paper, markings, glue and stickers in order that the residents could produce Valentine's Day maps. Some wrote friendly news for the staff and thanked them for the establishment of events, while others were addressed to relatives.
“I think you do your best what you can do here to make it a nice day,” said Bollier.
Gonzalez also distributed colourful cards that she had collected from friends who work with children.
“It is very thoughtful from you to remember people who are in the facility and strangers in this area,” said the local pilar Sabalvaro. “We don't know them, but I think they are very thoughtful from the elderly people who are resident here.”
According to a national survey by the University of Michigan, a healthy aging in January 2023, a 3rd of the seniors stated that they feel isolated, having an absence of camaraderie and rare social contact.
Sabalvaro, who lives together with her husband at sunrise, said she “had no choice” than to live in the power, and added that it could not feel right to force her children to get up because that Would be “selfish” and you’ll have your personal life.
“You feel lonely because contact is different,” said Sabalvaro. “They are busy, they come, most of them give them and I know that they give the best you know how and that is calming.”
Bollier said she never really felt lonely, but it’s because her family is “really good” for her.
“I am lucky in this way because there are some people who don't have it,” said Bollier. “If I hadn't decided on a family, I wouldn't have the family that I am doing now.”
Sabalvaro, nonetheless, said she accepted the offer to participate within the event on Valentine's Day since it rendered the community.
“If you are alone at home, it is very lonely and there is no activity,” she said.
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