CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Students' business helps families stay connected to senior loved ones

The Herald - 7/16/2018

July 16--HERMITAGE -- Two Penn State Shenango students are spurred by Purpose, their new business.

Ali Izzo and Holly Masters, both 21, developed their business after working with people in nursing homes as occupational therapy assistants.

What they saw inspired them to make a difference.

Masters said it's common for residents, especially on days when they have no visitors, to feel lonely and without purpose.

"Oh, nobody is coming in today, so I can just stay (in bed)," residents will tell her, Masters said. "Things like that just break your heart."

The two women graduated from Penn State Shenango in December with their associate's degrees in the OTA program and will be returning in August for their bachelor's degrees in human development and family studies -- just in time for Purpose to kick into gear.

So far, they have shipped three boxes and have 20 orders waiting to go out, from their headquarters at the VenturePointe incubator inside the eCenter@LindenPointe in Hermitage. Masters said the name was deliberately chosen.

"We chose 'Purpose' because we want the older people to feel they still have a purpose," she said. "We're sending them items that are purposeful and have meaning."

Masters hopes residents will look forward to receiving their boxes, not to mention the gifts inside will provide games and pictures of loved ones that will last long after the cardboard hits a recycling bin.

Before creating their business, Izzo, of Hermitage, and Masters, of Gustavus, Ohio, interviewed roughly 50 people from three local nursing homes to better understand what residents would like to receive in their box.

Izzo asked the question "If you could go to the store and buy three things ..." thinking they would answer with a list of non-essential items they wanted.

Instead, she often got a response of "Bread, milk and eggs."

One man said he would like a six-pack of beer, Masters said.

Purpose can't mail food or alcohol, but one of the items in the men's box is soap that smells like beer, Masters said, her voice hopeful that this will be an acceptable substitute.

Because people in nursing homes often have dietary restrictions, none of the items in the box can be consumed.

Every three months, Purpose creates a themed "quarterly box." The first box focuses on cognition. The other themes include personal care, strengthening and fine motor skills.

For a quarterly box, people can upload up to three photos and a message on Purpose's website, which will be included in the box. For the cognition box, other gifts include a thick book of crossword and Sudoku puzzles, playing cards, a framed photo and Masters' favorite -- a coaster that doubles as a puzzle with magnetic pieces.

"We want to send them things that are functional and useful instead of things that are just decor-oriented or things they wouldn't use," Masters said.

They are occupational therapists first, and their gift ideas originate from their medical and health professional background, which is what makes their boxes special, Izzo said.

"We work with these people, and we know what's going to benefit them," Izzo said. "That's how we pick our products -- based on what we know from our experience working with older adults."

The "Thinking of You" box includes a slip-on bracelet because women with arthritis might have difficulty with a clasp. The women they interviewed told them it was important to be able to put on jewelry by themselves.

What is most important to the elderly, however, is talking with them, asking them questions about their lives and really listening, Izzo said.

"You can see it on their faces that they're so excited to talk to you," Izzo said. "We don't want this box to take the place of conversation between family and their loved ones, but we know you can't always be there."

She hopes the boxes provide a way for family members to send notes that say they're excited to see them soon and that they're thinking about them, Izzo said.

When she asks about a resident's family, he or she often says that they live out of town.

"Trying to keep families connected is one of the main reasons we came up with this idea," Izzo said.

"People live hectic lifestyles, you can't help that," Izzo said. "We want to try and do something to fill in those gaps when you can't be there, but you want to be and to let them know you're thinking about them. You haven't forgotten them there."

Follow Natalie Eastwood on Facebook and Twitter @natalie_herald. Email her at neastwood@sharonherald.com.

___

(c)2018 The Herald (Sharon,Pa)

Visit The Herald (Sharon,Pa) at www.sharonherald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.