My business and personal focus has been with older adults for the last 10 years and because people know this about me they are always letting me know about organizations, products and services that are a part of the aging field. I have moved all over the country and was far from family and realized that my children were without the typical grandparent experience. Working with older adults and with professionals who serve older adults blended with my personal situation, I am very passionate about the mission of Bessie's Hope to unite the generations and work to eliminate loneliness from the equation for seniors and bring a sense of purpose for the younger generation connecting with seniors. I am so impressed with Linda Holloway who is the co-founder and granddaughter of Bessie and the most passionate and driven person about her cause and keeping Grandma Bessie's legacy going on forever.
Judy Rough, CSA
Certified Senior Advisor
They have been a huge help to me! I am an Activities Director at a Nursing Home, and I don't have a lot of time to invest in volunteer coordinating. It has been such a joy and comfort to have Bessie's Hope program involved with our home. They are easy to work with, kind, fun, and hard-working. We have had tons of opportunities that we would not have had otherwise if it weren't for their organization.
After a dear friend's bad experience at a nursing home/rehab, I wanted to get involved in advocating for seniors in some way. I had been appalled at the treatment she received and that she was afraid to have anyone speak up about it for fear she would be treated even worse. Shortly after we got her out of there and into a good facility, I met Linda Holloway and learned about the services that Bessie's Hope provides to elders in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. I joined the Board of Directors thinking that would be the best way to serve, since my time to volunteer was extremely limited. At my first attendance of a youth/elder visit, I was profoundly moved at the interactions between the youth and elders. It is my belief that the training they provide makes all the difference. All the youth were engaged and involved, and the elders were clearly having a grand time. We warehouse and forget our seniors all too often in today's society, where we should be doing what Bessie's Hope is - visiting, nurturing and valuing them. They have so much still to give.