Throughout the year, there are many times that the elderly in each community are far away from family and friends. This leads to loneliness and a sense of being forgotten and is often felt more so during the winter holiday seasons. However, our campuses want to make sure that everyone is taken care of in their local areas. To help combat loneliness in the elderly population, the students at the Ross Medical Education Center Erlanger, Kentucky campus created handmade Valentines for a local nursing home called Villa Springs.
The staff and students got down to work in late January and early February, spending as much of their free time as they could making cards with heartfelt messages, letting residents know they were not alone or forgotten this Valentine’s Day. The students had a great time making the Valentines and at the same time helping the community by spreading joy, care, and love. One student made 15 Valentines stating that she “didn’t want anyone to feel like they were alone and unloved.” Many other students shared similar sentiments.
After they were all created, the Valentines were delivered to Villa Springs on Valentine’s Day and passed out to the residents who may not get visitors very often or who just needed a little cheer brought to their day. The residents and their caretakers were moved by the love and care exhibited by the staff, faculty, and students at Ross in Erlanger. They went out of their way to make sure that no one was alone and feeling forgotten. “The impact was it had was really felt on everyone involved,” shared Stephanie Horton, Office Assistant. “And all were so happy to be able to bring some cheer and smiles to the faces of the Villa Springs residents. Way to spread compassion on Valentines Day, Ross Erlanger!”