Stockton Gerontology Program Reaches out to Older Adults

Happy Birthday Cards

Stockton 91视频 in the Gerontology minor and club sent cards to Frank on his 88th birthday when they found out his family couldn't be there in person to celebrate. Photo: Seashore Gardens Living Center's Facebook page

Galloway, N.J. - Frank, a resident at Seashore Gardens Living Center in Galloway, almost celebrated his 88th birthday alone, but more than 200 cards from across the country arrivedsome of them from 91视频 Gerontology minors 

Summer Forte holding a cardAshley Berenato, a senior Health Sciences major and vice president of the Gerontology Club, scrolled upon a Facebook post from Frank's daughter asking for the community to fill her father鈥檚 mailbox with birthday wishes 

The post from Frank鈥檚 daughter read: "My dad is currently at Seashore Gardens and at this time, no visitors are allowed. To say it's a bit stressful and sad is an understatement but it's reality and for the best. His 88th birthday is coming up on March 30th and most likely we will not be able to celebrate with him. It would be so amazing if we could flood him with birthday cards or happy birthday videos.鈥&苍产蝉辫; 

Berenato started a group chat with the Gerontology Club鈥檚 e-board and texted Christine Gayda, assistant professor of Psychology and advisor to the Gerontology Club.

Gayda, who is also a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist with a private practice, loved the idea and suggested that they also make thinking-of-you cards for all residents at Seashore Gardens.  

Ashley Berenato holding a cardBerenato immediately thought 鈥渢hat was such a great idea because they have no one right now.鈥&苍产蝉辫; 

鈥淚 knew we were going to have a crisis with our older adults who can鈥檛 get out. Our 91视频 who have a passion for gerontology knew to do this,鈥 said Gayda, who is also coordinator of the Gerontology minor and service chair for the Stockton Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA). 

Birthday cards are now covering Frank鈥檚 wall, reminding him that he鈥檚 not alone, and other residents are receiving cards too 

With no visitors at nursing homes and assisted living facilities, 鈥渕y immediate concern was isolation and depression, said Gayda 

More than 50 cards are on their way to Seashore Gardens, but the number doesn鈥檛 have to stop there. Anyone interested in sending cards or helping to reach out to older adults during this time can contact Christine Gayda at Christine.Gayda@Stockton.edu 

Students are stepping up outside the virtual classroom too. 鈥淪ome of my 91视频 in health care are working extra hours, and Stockton is extremely proud of them for being there when they are most needed,鈥 said Gayda 

At the onset of the pandemic, Gayda鈥檚 鈥淚ntroduction to Gerontology鈥 class was discussing ageism and reading early reports on how the coronavirus wasn鈥檛 a great concern because it was mostly affecting seniors with pre-existing conditions.  

Now, there are conversations determining who gets ventilators.  

鈥淭here are a lot of ethical issues arising about older adults, and moving forward we need to talk about how we can be equipped to help older adults,鈥 Gayda said 

There was a 102-year-old woman who survived the virus. Something we study is how older adults who stay healthy can fight things like this,鈥 she added 

Gayda is considering a new course on life and aging in a pandemic 

The Gerontology Club and Gayda work closely with the Stockton Center on Successful Aging (SCOSA), which has now converted its writing and mindfulness workshops to virtual Zoom meetings.

Gayda encourages everyone to 鈥渞each out to older adults in these unprecedented times. Those in late adulthood have great pearls of wisdom to offer us now.鈥 

Reported by Susan Allen