ISHAN MANDANI, Co founder

Our elders are one of the most vulnerable yet valuable sectors of our society. They are often forgotten and isolated by society. The Grand Kids program was initiated to brighten the day of residents of Assisted Living Facilities who have few or no visitors. Research from the Department of Health states that the suicidal rate among the elderly has drastically increased due to isolation and according to University of Michigan research, empathy among youth has dropped by 40 percent in 20 years. Our purpose is to provide a vehicle that will bring youth and senior citizens together to provide them both with life enriching experiences. Our program called "Grand Kids" provides training and activities created by professionals from Suncoast Hospice, Red Cross, Girls and Boys Scouts and Mease Hospital to help youth better understand the needs of elderly and to help them develop Empathy, Compassion, Respect and Responsibility. Grand Kids (GK) complete the mandatory training and are then matched with seniors from either Hospice or Assisted Living Facilities who become the GKs adopted grandparents (GP). Youth visit once a week for 3 hours, engaging with their GPs with creative, educational, fun filled activities. Together, they embark on a journey of love, bonding, and learning. Grand Kids will accompany their GP down memory lane by highlighting their most memorable moments of life. At the end of the 7 to 10 weeks of visiting they present their GP with a journal, a biography of their life, filled with cherished moments and accomplishments which were forgotten. This brings smiles, joy, empowerment and pride, enriching the Grand Parents lives for a long time to come.