(Aging Untold) — A nine-year-old girl found a unique way of helping others, starting her own nonprofit to bring companionship to seniors in care facilities.
Evelyn Hill and her mom deliver stuffed animals to residents through their nonprofit called Evelyn’s Blessings.
“I have so much joy from this. I love it so much,” Hill said.
The idea came after multiple trips to Evelyn’s “Poppy” at a long-term care facility that takes care of dementia patients.
Sam Craddock, an Aging Untold expert and gerontologist, explained the importance of companionship for memory care patients.
“Many of our memory care patients they struggle with feeling alone and they’re not often visited,” Craddock said.
Craddock said having something to care for provides a sense of purpose.
“Feeling a sense of purpose is the most important thing any one of us as humans can have and so having an animal you can take care of… something that you can love – they’re just a sense of purpose and a sense of meaning and belonging and I love what she’s done there,” Craddock said.
JoAnne, a resident, received a stuffed animal from Evelyn’s Blessings.
“He is still I don’t have to chase him, clean up after him, or feed him, so what better could you have?” JoAnne said.
The goal is to visit as many long-term care facilities so more residents can receive stuffed animals from Evelyn’s Blessings.
