Getting a card from a loved one – whether it’s a significant other, child, parent or friend – is sure to brighten up your Valentine’s Day. This year, nearly 400 local seniors will receive valentines put together by volunteers at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. While the volunteers may not know the seniors personally, you can bet these notes of friendship will make them feel loved and appreciated.

Once a quarter, nearly 90 associate volunteers write cards and messages to seniors through Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly (LBFE) in Minneapolis. For Valentine’s Day, this group and additional Blue Cross volunteers created a total of 1,240 valentines. That means the LBFE seniors will each get three unique valentines from Blue Cross associates.

Recently, associates who participate in the Quarterly Card Connect program got together to personalize, address and organize the valentines, then put them in the mail.

“Participating in this activity by addressing envelopes was very rewarding,” says Deann Kukla, a senior business analyst at Blue Cross. “It was fun to see the cards being mailed and it felt good to know the difference they will make in the seniors’ lives. It’s a simple task with a big reward.”

Helping seniors combat loneliness

“As people age, most have a built-in family or financial support system,” says Ann Fosco, community impact director at Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly. “But those who don’t, like the older adults in our program who receive the cards and notes, are at greater risk of isolation and loneliness and often slip through the cracks. Some studies indicate the impact of social isolation will persist well after (COVID-19-related) restrictions have been lifted leading to ‘exacerbated problems of dementia, depression, and disrupted care.’ Even perceived social isolation — the feeling that you are lonely — is a struggle for many older people.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the effects of loneliness and social isolation, especially for seniors. Early on, they were encouraged to stay home and not have any visitors in order to protect themselves from getting sick. Many of those restrictions have since been lifted or modified with the approval of COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots. However, increased social isolation and loneliness in older adults still persists.

“Our older adult members need to feel connected, valued and know that there is someone out there thinking of them.” – Ann Fosco, Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly

 

“Elders are sometimes a forgotten population. The opportunity to reach out and remind someone they are not alone is so important. Checking on relatives and neighbors should be a conscious effort,” says Heidi Franceschelli, a consumer liaison and co-leader of the Quarterly Card Connect project at Blue Cross. “The idea to reach out through a letter makes it so much more personal when we cannot be relatively close right now.”

Ann says many seniors at LBFE get a lot of joy out of receiving these notes regularly.

“We had one of our members tell us that she keeps all her cards and notes, and when things get tough, she looks at them and feels better because she knows someone cares,” she says. “Some members even write back to express their gratitude.”

“I get to remind people they matter. There were times when I felt like I did not matter and this is my way of reminding myself that everyone has worth.” – Heidi Franceschelli

Other ways to support local seniors

Beyond writing cards and letters, there are other ways you can connect with local seniors to combat loneliness. One way is by taking part in LBFE’s Elder Friends Phone Companions program, where you can call a senior on a regular basis.

“A phone call works wonders! There is nothing like the feeling you get when a friend gives you a call,” says Ann. “For isolated older adults, the phone may not be ringing as often as they would like. The cure for loneliness just might be a connection that is right at your fingertips. Our members look forward to sharing stories, life experiences, a few tears and a lot of laughter with their phone companions.”

Heidi says no matter how you connect with seniors, it is guaranteed to make a difference in both your life and theirs.

“You can make a difference and you do MATTER!” she says.

Click to learn more about Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly and the Elder Friends Phone Companions programs.