Giving has no age limit.

Caring for -- and by -- seniors.

Whether you call them grandma, grandpa, mom or dad, our elders deserve our respect and care. Thanks to your notes to our Good mailbox, we hear about a number of V Teamers taking time out to assist our seniors in one way or another.

• Susan Vinci, Associate General Counsel in Basking Ridge, NJ, sends care packages to her 85-year-old mother complete with mom’s favorite bread.
• Mike Strigl, a Learning and Development Consultant in Blue Bell, PA, organizes a “box of love” donation drive that brings smiles to seniors at assisted living facilities.
• Alissa Guimond, a Retail District Manager in Portland, ME, writes letters to older adults as part of Love for the Elderly and makes it a family affair by having her daughter (who’s about to turn 1!) help color pictures to include.

And yet, for so many of our older adults, it’s not about receiving care as much as giving it to others.

• Kelly Dillard, a Project Manager from Hilliard, OH, tells us her mother Barbara Clark is not only a Facetime fanatic, she’s a clinical counselor helping patients via tele-health. Barbara, 72, uses her hotspot to stay connected as she counsels patients. “At this point in life, I think all of our goals as seniors is to give back all the blessings that we have received in the past,” said Barbara. “And knowing that I can help somebody just speaks to my purpose.”
• Damion Silveria, a Solutions Specialist from Round Rock, TX, tells us his grandmother Gloriajean is giving back in a big way. The 80-year-old cancer survivor has sewn and donated more than 200 masks. She’s inspired her grandson to give and, as this local news story shows us, Gloriajean has no plans to stop. “I’m like a machine; once I get started, I hate quitting.”
• Finally, a centenarian story of hope: Orel Borgeson was just a few months old when the Spanish Flu of 1918 gripped the globe. More than a century later, she’s one of the few on the planet who can say she’s survived two pandemics (knocking on wood). Orel just turned 103.

Volunteer portal

V Team, check out the volunteer portal for more ways you can give back virtually during COVID-19. For example, there is an opportunity to make wellness check-in calls through our partnership with Older Adults Technology Services. A friendly voice on the line can go a long way.

The new Care Smart Watch from Verizon

Seeking peace of mind, either as a caregiver concerned about a loved one or as a person who might need some care from time to time? Then look no further than the Care Smart Watch, an attractive wearable with handy features like text-to-speech, reminder settings and one-button emergency contact calling.

The Care Smart app lets you add up to ten trusted contacts, manage medication reminders and set location alerts. It’s an easy way to keep the people in your life top of mind.

The watch is available this Thursday, April 23.

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