Students, faculty, and staff from Ross Medical Education Center in Brighton, Michigan observed Valentine’s Day by creating handmade cards for the residents of Independence Village Senior Living. Students from the Medical Insurance Billing and Office Administration program, Medical Assistant program, Dental Assistant program, and Pharmacy Technician program worked hard to create cards for the seniors. Many students even created cards at home with their families! Independence Village is very close to the Brighton campus and the school has partnered with the facility for blood drives and other events.
Office Assistant Jill Letourneau helped spearhead the event. She created several cards on her own, using them as examples for the rest of the staff and students. Jill remarked that “it’s important that seniors know someone is thinking of them, especially if their families cannot visit.” Many seniors have families who live far away, and when a holiday comes, they feel a little left out. According their website, Independence Village is resident-centered, saying “every person is important and valuable to our community, and we work hard to make sure each resident feels loved and appreciated.” The facility provides gourmet dining, transportation to local businesses and entertainment, and many varied programs and activities for seniors. Even with all of this, many seniors might feel lonely at times.
Morning Medical Assistant student Stacey Taylor wanted to wish all the residents a Happy Valentine’s Day! So she and her fellow students created cards with themes like ”Bee My Valentine.” The students created the cards with construction paper and decorated them with original messages and designs.
According to the Population Reference Bureau website, as of 2016, people over sixty five will comprise over 24% of the population. In contrast, in 1965 they made up less that 5% of the population. Many families are now moving to all parts of the country for employment, leaving many family members many hours away from their parents and grandparents. When the Valentine Card project was announced, the instructors and staff emphasized the importance of making all seniors feel important, not only on holidays, but all throughout the year.