In January 2021, Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP) in partnership with the County of San Diego Community Action Partnership (CAP) awarded four organizations with Resident Leadership Academy (RLA) COVID-19 Relief Project Stipends. The goal of these stipends was to help fund proposed community projects on COVID-19 response & recovery and a total of $9000 was distributed among the awardees. One of the four awardees was Bayside Community Center in Linda Vista. Resident leaders proposed a project to address loneliness and social isolation in their senior population. COVID-19 has unfortunately emphasized this isolation in seniors, especially those who are living alone and unable to gather together with others. To address this issue, Bayside and its Linda Vista Leaders in Action developed the Senior Companionship Project, where resident leaders hand deliver care packages and set up phone and in-person wellness checks to seniors in the Linda Vista area.

The inspiration behind this project started back in November 2020 with Bayside’s Resident Leadership Academy Cohort #11. Members of this RLA graduate class were all seniors and the group wanted to address senior isolation as part of their community improvement project. Connie Curran, Candy Garner, Katy Soto, Socorro Jaramillo, and Irene Holguin came together as the “Seniors in Action” and developed their project alongside Bayside staff members, Rose Ceballos, Director of Social Services and Tomasa Ruiz-Velediaz, Community Advocate.

For this project, the team outlined key activities such as monthly deliveries of handcrafted items and necessities, connect by phone regularly, and performing wellness check-ins. The Seniors in Action then identified a select number of seniors to outreach to and following award of the stipend, the team quickly got to work. They currently meet twice a month to plan, brainstorm, and debrief on their efforts. The group has delivered thoughtful gifts in the form of amaryllis plants in the month of January, flower arrangements in the month of February, puzzles & handmade jewelry in March, and potted succulents in the month of April.

Aside from the package deliveries, the group also works to make phone calls to the seniors. Connie Curran, one of the RLA graduates and organizers of the project spoke on her experience since launching this effort, stating that there has been positive ripple effects from simply making a call. “The seniors feel lonely being on their own. By calling them, I am able to help answer questions and it makes all the difference.” She shared one instance in which she called a widowed senior and learned she was experiencing difficulties taking out the trash in her home. Connie was able to address this issue by connecting with a neighbor to help the senior out once a week. “I might not know all the answers, but it so important to show seniors that someone is out there that cares.”

The project has created a sense of connection in the community of Linda Vista. In the short time since the project began, the effects have been monumental. Since January, 65 phone calls have been made to the seniors and in addition to the care packages, the group now also delivers food to 36 seniors twice a month. Word of this effort has also inspired others in the area to take part. Most recently, a local high school student developed brain game puzzles to include in the monthly care packages to seniors.

Tomasa Ruiz-Velediaz shared how this project has inspired her. “Through this project, I saw how lonely the seniors are and sometimes we forget about them. By being a part of this, I get to connect with them. Spending a few minutes to talk makes them so happy and it makes me so happy. I now put more attention to the seniors and anyone else feeling lonely. This project has really touched my heart.”

The project team is truly grateful to bring this service to their senior community. The hope is to continue this with even more seniors in their area and they look to have the regular deliveries and phone calls moving forward.

“Thank you to CHIP and RLA for funding this program. We are actively looking for more opportunities to keep this project going. I love it and it is a highlight and I get so excited to see everyone,” said Rose Ceballos.

 

For More Information

To learn more about the Resident Leadership Academy, please email Yeni L. Palomino at ypalomino@sdchip.org. You can also visit CHIP’s RLA website at https://www.sdchip.org/initiatives/resident-leadership-academy/.