The Adventist Nursing Home in Italy, “Casa Mia”, launches the “Adopt a grandparent” initiative and invites all citizens of Forlì to dedicate part of their time, as volunteers, to a guest of the facility.
“A simple but significant gesture like a phone call, a visit or a chat can make a difference, giving smiles and creating bonds of affection and closeness” says Giovanni Benini, director of Casa Mia.
The Forlì facility is committed to improving the lives of its residents in a family environment where everyone can truly feel at home. The new project (actually resumed after about 27 years) is part of this “mission” of the nursing home, with a dual objective: to combat the loneliness of elderly people, to give citizens the opportunity to rediscover the meaning of community.
“The initiative aims to support the emotional and relational well-being of the elderly,” explains Benini, “and thus offer opportunities for dialogue, companionship and sharing, to enrich their days with moments full of shared meaning and attention. At the same time, it aims to raise awareness among the community about the importance of intergenerational solidarity”, concluded Benini.
Furthermore, “it involves not only individual citizens, but also local associations, with the aim of promoting better aging and a good quality of life,” underlines the director.
The project will start in April 2025 and will last a year. It is structured so that each volunteer is paired with a guest of the facility, naturally with the consent of the relatives. Anyone who wants to join, and dedicate a little of their time each month, every 15 days or even more frequently, has the opportunity to create a bridge with a guest of the nursing home. Through this experience, young and old rediscover the value of sharing and mutual care, building a network of social relationships that strengthens the sense of community. A small gesture can turn into a great gift: the warmth of a new friendship.
The local press has given ample space to the solidarity project.
The nursing home
“Casa Mia” Onlus, an institution of the Adventist Church, was inaugurated in Forlì in 1983 and has been affiliated with the Regional Health Service since 1997. The central facility accommodates 88 elderly people. Two years ago, a second operational headquarters (Casa Mia 2) was opened, for 16 people who are still independent.
The day department has about 120 elderly people in total. Last year, the facility also inaugurated the Center for neurocognitive disorders and dementia, with eight rooms, a kitchen area, a vegetable garden and a garden, with dedicated musical instruments.
To learn more about the facility and its initiatives please go here.
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