An influx of care homes from across the UK have joined up to the Adopt a Grandparent initiative – responding to the charity’s recent call for new ‘grandparents’ to come forward and be adopted by its willing volunteers as it seeks to end loneliness and isolation.
Centred on forming intergenerational relationships to alleviate loneliness, Adopt a Grandparent has seen almost 100,000 volunteers sign up since launching in 2020. But with volunteers currently far outweighing the ‘grandparents’ up for adoption, the charity has been seeking to redress the balance through a new drive.
In a heartwarming response to the charity’s ‘Wanted’ initiative, nearly 60 care homes have so far stepped up to the plate, joining the scheme in a bid to bring smiles and companionship to volunteers all over the world. The charity, which has been making a significant impact on the lives of older people, is now poised to expand its reach even further as it welcomes the latest round of care providers to sign up.
With wide-ranging reasons for joining the scheme, from personal loneliness and missing their own grandparents, to simply wanting to help others – the Wanted initiative seeks to outline the mixture of personalities and backgrounds among the charity’s current volunteers. Highlighting 10 individuals, it shines a light on just some of the incredible people who are eager to make a difference in the lives of those who live in care homes, retirement homes or are in receipt of homecare.
Amongst the volunteers looking to be paired are some well known faces, including Hollywood actor Ruby Rose, and UK media personality, Jess Impiazzi – as well as a doctor, finance director, electrician, nurse, lawyer and more, with ages stretching from those in their teens to their fifties.
With statistics showing that 1.2 million older people in England are chronically lonely and that 200,000 older people have not had a conversation with friends or family for an entire month, Adopt a Grandparent hopes this influx of new care homes will serve as an inspiring example for others, igniting a collective effort to bring companionship to the lives of individuals of all ages. Encouraging both in-person and virtual pairings, the charity has developed a community platform to ensure that the pair are matched in accordance with their hobbies and interests, as well as providing a safe space for virtual calls.
Shaleeza Hasham, founder of Adopt a Grandparent, said: “I am thrilled we’ve had such a great response to our search for grandparents. Seeing almost 60 new care homes joining our initiative is a testament to the power of unity and shared compassion. The fact that we can now pair more volunteers with older individuals is a clear sign that our mission to combat loneliness is resonating with communities and that together, we can create a more connected future for everyone.”
She added: “With so many volunteers on our books though, we still have plenty of room for more care providers to come onboard and join our mission. So if you work in care and you think you have residents who’d benefit from bonds of friendship, please sign up!”
By connecting volunteers with ‘grandparents’, the initiative aims to create a support network that combats loneliness, promotes social interaction, and enriches the lives of older adults.
For more information about Adopt a Grandparent, or to sign your care service up to the scheme, visit www.adoptagrandparent.org.uk/.