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Friendship Boosts Seniors' Well-BeingBy Michelle Gardner For many Americans, getting older means spending time alone and dealing with the loss of loved ones. Although being secluded takes a toll on the elderly, socializing, and staying active can add years to their lives. Research from Harvard University shows older people who participate in social activities such as eating out, spending time with friends and family, playing cards, and exercising will live an average of 2.5 years longer than those who are more reclusive. The study also found that the older a person is, the less likely he/she is to be involved in social activities. Countering these findings are many "adopt-a-grandparent" programs that encourage volunteers to spend time with seniors. Linda Langstraat, director of Adopt-A-Grandparent in Atlanta, got her start through the Mennonite Central Committee. One of the jobs was to find the seniors who live alone in the inner city of Atlanta and determine their needs. "I chose that job because I knew that I do well with people one-on-one and I love my grandmother," says Langstraat. "I lived a few doors down from a woman who had gone door to door and had a list of names of seniors that lived alone in the Grant Park area. I called the 35 seniors on the list and worked with them by myself for seven years." Langstraat quickly found they primarily needed a friend and somebody to listen. "They had a heartfelt need to express themselves," she says. "I began listening and soon [my own] hurts were healed and soothed by the love they gave me. I thought there must be other people out there who could benefit from this besides just me, so I opened it up to the community. I began to interview people to adopt a senior." The benefits of befriending the seniors have resulted in improved health, enhanced moods, and general happiness. "We had a woman with asthma who was constantly calling 9-1-1 and going to the emergency room," said Langstraat. "She was matched with a friend and that stopped the 9-1-1 calls. She would only have to go to regular visits at the clinic. That is not the only case, but that is one example of health improving." Often, the seniors don't know they have the need for friendship or that there is anything like these programs unless a friend tells them about it. "In a senior's mind, it is hard to imagine that anyone would think they are worthy and would want to visit once a week," says Langstraat. "If you ask any of my seniors what I do, they couldn't explain it because it is so out of the ordinary. They can't wrap their minds around the friendship and somebody loving them and being there." Sree Roy is the Adopt-A-Grandparent program coordinator for Communiversity, the largest student volunteer organization at the University of Georgia in Athens. "Our volunteers are asked to meet with their grandparent(s) for about two hours a week," says Roy. "Some volunteers have specific grandparents and others volunteer at a day care center for specific activities like bingo. I primarily volunteer at the day care center, where I socialize with the grandparents, ask them how their day has been, and do arts and crafts with them. Other volunteers play chess or complete puzzles with the grandparents." The benefits vary from senior to senior, but grandparents at various homes have personally thanked Roy for coming. "I had one grandparent at the Athens Adult Day Care Center specifically thank me for sitting next to her so she did not have to sit alone at the table," says Roy. "It was wonderful. I wasn't even talking to her at the time because the conversation had sort of run dry, so I was feeling almost useless. When she said that, I remembered why I joined the program in the first place." Adopt-A-Grandparent programs are important because senior citizens are often ignored and visitors can be rare or nonexistent. "It is very important for senior citizens to know that they are appreciated," says Roy. "No matter how old they are, they still have reasons to live, their knowledge and experiences are truly extraordinary. I hope more young people will come to realize this." Marika Johnson, a fourth-year economics major at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, is the head program director for the Adopt-A-Grandparent program at Madison House, a community service organization on campus. "For a few months before I started college, my grandfather lived with my family," says Johnson. "I was able to get to know my grandfather so much better [and] understand more about older people. When I came to school, I really missed my grandfather and spending time with someone older. I saw a flyer for Adopt-A-Grandparent and immediately wanted to join." The program uses 120 volunteers to visit seven nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the Charlottesville community. Johnson's adopted grandfather is a resident at an assisted living facility and she visits him at least once a week for no less than an hour. "When I first started visiting him, we would often participate in sing-alongs with other residents," she says. "He loves to sing and usually has several solos. We also spend a lot of time talking and looking at pictures in his room. Since he is no longer able to drive, I frequently take him grocery shopping and I have taken him to visit his sister-in-law in Fork Union, Va." For Johnson, her adopted grandfather isn't just an obligation or a box to fill on her to-do list. He has become a part of her life, family, and friends. "He is a graduate of UVA, so that's a great connection we have," she says. "He loves hearing about the university, sometimes wishing that he was still a student. We have also met each other's families. We have really developed a special relationship. If I don't talk to him for a while, he will give me a call and remind me. His family doesn't live close by, so I am someone he sees consistently who he knows cares about him." The Adopt-A-Grandparent programs benefits both the grandparents and the volunteers because it gives both a chance to interact with different age groups. "I spend all my time with college students and he spends all of his time with senior citizens," says Johnson. "[This] really helps expand both of our worlds." did you know?Industry Events March Ontario Long Term Care Association OLTCA/ORCA Annual Convention Federation of American Hospitals Conference, Business Expo American College of Healthcare Executives Congress on Healthcare
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