A man receives a gift from a Santa in the Be a Santa to a Senior program. Credit: Home Instead
Editor’s note: Home Sweet Home is a feature appearing Mondays in McKnight’s Home Care Daily Pulse. The story focuses on a heartwarming, entertaining or quirky happening affecting the world of home care. If you have a topic that might be worthy of the spotlight in Home Sweet Home, please email Caroline Szachnowski at [email protected].
The happiest season of all? For many older adults, the holidays do not conjure the joy that popular tunes talk about. Instead, this time of year can present feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Home Instead, one of the largest home care providers in the United States, is aware of this fact, which is why it created Be a Santa to a Senior, a program that helps provide older adults some holiday cheer.
“Unfortunately, loneliness and isolation are common in older adults, especially during the holidays,” said Jeff Huber, CEO of Home Instead. “We created the Be a Santa to a Senior program to not only help seniors feel loved during a time of celebration, but to also unite communities to help support their local seniors.”
Santas, welcome
Seniors are asked to put items on their wish lists, most of which are essential items like blankets, clothes, slippers and toiletries. Community members then purchase the gifts.
In this program, anyone can be a “Santa.” This includes those in the company’s franchise offices, volunteers and others in the community.
“Home Instead works with local senior care agencies and nonprofits to identify seniors who might otherwise be overlooked during the holidays,” Huber explained. “For many of the gift recipients, the gift they receive through Be a Santa to a Senior is the only gift they will receive during the holidays. These gifts, while small, make a big and lasting impact.”
In 2020, Home Instead partnered with Amazon Business to create a contactless gift giving option. This partnership facilitates the process of buying and distributing the gifts on seniors’ wish lists. Shoppers can visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com, enter their zip code or city and choose a wish list. From there, they purchase the gift and either have it directly sent to that senior or to a local Home Instead office to be delivered to the senior. Each gift is shipped with a personal message to the recipient.
Home Instead also has partnerships with local nonprofits, businesses and retail stores. All shoppers need to do is select an ornament containing a senior’s gift request. They then purchase the gift and return it to the delivery box located at the gift tree. Participating Home Instead offices will collect and distribute the gifts to seniors in need.
Pen Pal program
For those who are unable to provide a physical gift, Home Instead also offers a Become a Pen Pal program. This entails writing letters to seniors and letting them know that they are thought of and cared for.
“Our purpose goes beyond our home care services and really focuses on empowering people to age safely at home with dignity and respect,” Huber said. “It’s grounded in our mission to not only enhance the lives of aging adults and their family, but to inspire others to do so as well.”
