Often what’s called the ‘golden years’ of life aren’t so golden.
On average, 60 percent of residents in senior care facilities don’t get any visits from friends or family members, but it was a first-hand encounter that prompted a South Mississippi business woman to take action and rally the community to honor our elderly here in South Mississippi.
What's called the "golde- years" of life - aren't so- golden.
- on average, 60-percent of - residents in senior care- facilities don't get any visits- from friends or family members,- but it was a first-hand - encounter that prompted a - south mississippi business woma- to take action - and rally the- community to honor our elderly- here in south mississippi.- news 25's toni miles has more o- the seventh annual adopt a- grandparent day coming up.- - kathy rogers, adopt a - grandparent founder:- "my mother lived with us for- several years.
While she was- here, she fell and hurt - herself, and she ended up - spending 30 days in a nursing - home.
While we were - there we began to notice that - people were lonely.
They were - isolated.
People- were lining up to visit with my- husband when he came through th- - - - same time everyday.
When she- came back, we were looking for - way as a business to give back- to our local community.
We came- up with the idea to organize- people to - visit with our local nursing- home residents."- and this is how the local non-- profit adopt a grandparent- was born back in 2014.- since then, a day has been set- aside each year to honor south- mississippi's elderly - reachin- more than 1,500 - residents at 35 local senior- care facilities.- kathy rogers, adopt a - grandparent founder: "we are- making a difference.
The staff- tells us that the residents tal- about it for weeks after."- toni miles, news 25: "although- there are a few changes this- year due to covid, the- mission for adopt a grandparent- remains the same, and you can - show a local- senior support without even - leaving your home this year."
- kathy rogers, adopt a - grandparent founder: "normally- on our event we have- volunteers who go into the- facilities.
We make banners,- play games, but this year, of - course, for health reasons, the- volunteers will not be able to- go into the - facility, so we still want to - make a difference.
What we're - doing this year is we're asking- - - - people to send us cards,- letters, and drawings.
We're- going to take those items - - - - and laminate them.
That way the- faclities can sanitize those- items so they can - distribute them to the- residents."
<splice> we're also- going to do a treasure box."- you can also help fill one of - - - - those 35 treasure boxes.
Kathy- rogers, adopt a grandparent - founder: "easiest way is just g- to our facebook page.
- there's a link directly to our- amazon wish list.
When you clic- on that, just go through- - - - and choose the items you want t- purchase.
You pay for them and- they are shipped- directly to us.
All you have to- do is just help us buy the- items."
- for more information and- volunteer opportunities,he- ad over to their facebook page- @adoptagrandparentday.- the deadline for donations is - august 21st.- adopt a grandparent day this- year is on saturday,- september 12th.
- toni miles, news 25.- -