Connection Is Caring

As we prepare to mark International Day of Older Persons on Oct. 1, Tammy Marino of Unbound highlights the importance of connection between generations. 

As a very young child in the suburbs outside of New York City, I was blessed to have three living grandparents play integral parts in my life. Sarah, my paternal grandmother, lived around the corner, making her house a weekly and holiday meeting place. When Sarah was healthy enough, she would walk to visit us at our home. I remember dropping whatever I was doing when I heard her singsong “Hello-o-o-o,” drift through the back porch screen door.  

I always felt safe and serene in her presence. Looking back, I am confident she felt the same way when she was with any of her 22 grandchildren. We could see the love and pride shining in her eyes as she prepared a meal, listened to a recap of a school day or gave a warm hug.  

Toward the end of her life, she struggled with extreme memory loss along with other health issues. But her face would still light up when I sat at her bedside, even if she wasn’t quite sure which grandchild I was.  

My maternal grandparents, Benny and Sally, lived many states away in Florida, but they had a summer bungalow just a couple of hours from our house. My family would spend part of our summer in the Catskill Mountains at my grandparents’ place.  

I loved hearing my grandparents share stories of their lives when they first came to the U.S. My grandfather would talk endlessly about how he tried different ways to support his young family. From New Jersey farmer to New York City taxi driver, his journey was a fascinating one. And my grandmother loved feeding me all my favorite foods, while singing old melodies from her past. 

"Love One Another As I Love You"

But I didn’t only look forward to the time with my grandparents. The entire bungalow colony was comprised of older retired people looking for a way to escape the Florida summertime heat. They became my extended family each year. While many of them had grandchildren of their own, summer camp and busy schedules made visits challenging. It was as if each member of the community waited in anticipation of our arrival — an opportunity to share their stories, to teach us how to play their favorite card games and how to make the perfect sugar cookies. Happiness flourished in every moment of connection. 

John 15:12 highlights Jesus saying, “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” Sharing love with the people in our households and those who live close by is easy. But despite the wisdom, resilience and value older adults bring to their communities, they are often overlooked and isolated.  

Some have no children or grandchildren to check in on them; others have family members who are so busy they fail to make ample time to nurture priceless bonds with their elderly relatives. Beyond isolation, the elderly can face a lack of health care and deep poverty, stripping away at a life befitting of their God-given dignity. 

Making a Connection Makes a Difference 

International nonprofit Unbound is the only major U.S.-based sponsorship organization that offers individuals the opportunity to directly support an elder. Sponsors who choose to support an elder feel that same sense of connection I experienced at my grandparents’ bungalow, while providing a human link for an older adult far away.  

Sponsor support helps elders to improve their housing, start a small business, access much-needed medicine or health care, and more. By empowering elders to develop and work toward their own self-directed paths out of poverty, Unbound sponsorship delivers hope.  

And by having support systems and solidarity groups in place, elders create personal connections with one another while also contributing to their communities. Isolation breeds vulnerability and can also lead to additional health issues, while social contact fosters strength. 

“When you’re alone, you often feel like you’re the only one facing challenges,” sponsored elder Rosemary said. “But when I attended the [elder group] meetings, I realized there were others going through even greater struggles, and some were older than me. Those gatherings encouraged me.” 

We rely on each other through every stage of life — and older adults are no exception. They need and deserve the same companionship, support and encouragement we all seek. On International Day of Older Persons (October 1), consider building connections by reaching out to an older adult in your family, neighborhood, or through Unbound. Have your child draw a picture, or pick flowers from your garden and deliver them. The smallest of gestures could have a large impact and brighten someone’s day. 

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Copyright 2025 Tammy Marino for Unbound
Images: copyright 2025 Unbound, all rights reserved.