She lives at Dawn of San Mateo, an assisted residing 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 coated in heart-shaped stickers, and he or she wrote her late husband a message: “Happy Valentine’s Day (wherever you are).”
In accordance 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 threat of coronary heart illness and a 32% elevated threat 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,” stated Senior Helpers spokesperson Rebeca Gonzalez.
Senior Helpers workers present in-home look after senior residents by serving to them with each day residing actions. The group serves folks residing on the Peninsula from San Francisco to Sunnyvale. Gonzalez stated a department in San Jose additionally serves communities all through the South Bay.
On the occasion Friday, Gonzalez and Dawn workers set out purple 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 sort messages for the workers, thanking them for organising 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 stated.
Gonzalez additionally handed out colorfully adorned playing cards that she had collected from buddies who work with kids.
Pilar Sabalvaro, resident, makes a Valentines Day card at Dawn of San Mateo in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)
“It is very thoughtful of you guys to remember people who are in the facility, and strangers at that,” stated 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 accordance with a College of Michigan Nationwide Ballot on Wholesome Ageing in January 2023, one-third of seniors stated they felt remoted, felt a scarcity of companionship and have rare social contact.
Bob Bliss and his father, Bob Bliss discuss on Valentines Day at Dawn of San Mateo in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)
Sabalvaro, who resides at Dawn together with her husband, stated she had “no choice” however to stay on the facility, including that it will not really feel proper to drive her kids to look at over her as a result of that may be “selfish” and so they have their very own lives.
“You feel lonesome because the contact is different,” Sabalvaro stated. “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 stated 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 stated. “If I hadn’t chosen to have a family, I wouldn’t have the family I do now.”
Nevertheless, Sabalvaro stated she took the supply to attend the Valentine’s Day occasion due to the neighborhood it supplied.
“If you are by yourself at home, it’s very lonesome and there is no activity,” she stated.
