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Avus Connect is the brainchild of Belen Jesuit Sophomore Shawn Martinez (Class of 2023) inspired by a call to action to address isolation and depression among older adults. “Avus” means grandfather in Latin.
On Christmas Eve 2018, Shawn’s maternal grandmother passed unexpectedly as the family prepared for the holiday festivities. Three months later, his paternal grandmother passed away leaving the family void of their matriarchs. Shawn states “grandmothers have the unique ability of bringing families together, as they are the main fabric that keeps families intact.” Shawn recalls how his grandfathers were negatively impacted by the absence of their life long partners. Their grieving process isolated them from friends and family and caused them to suffer from depression. The problem became worse with the start of the COVID pandemic and the forced social isolation which Shawn recognizes affected older adults and grandparents.
Watching both his grandfathers slipping away in isolation and depression was the “call to action” that Shawn recognizes to be the bedrock of Jesuit education. “I started to contact my grandfathers by phone and having conversations with them, helping them embrace positive memories from their native Peru and Cuba. I then added the visual impact by communicating through my tablet and “face-time” and noted how upbeat they became when they had visual contact with me. I extended this with some of my grandfather’s lifelong friends and noted how “connecting” was the key to reduce isolation.” Shawn shared this idea with his parents and his high school counselor, Rafael Ledesma, who encouraged him to take this experience to the next level. This is how he came across the Volunteer Heroes of United HomeCare, led by the team of Alina Palenzuela, Dolores Pollack and Blanca Ceballos.
Shawn highly appreciates the support he has received from the Belen Jesuit family and his counselor Mr. Ledesma and School Volunteer Coordinator, Teresita Gonzalez, but most importantly, taking the project from “concept” to reality was greatly achieved with the sponsorship and mentorship provided by the experts in Elder Care at United HomeCare and the multi-disciplinary team of clinicians and home health aides that care for older adults.
United HomeCare® (UHC) is a 501 (c)(3) home health provider of comprehensive services to older adults including visiting nurses and therapists, home health aides to assist with activities of daily living, and experienced case managers, social workers and nutritionists offering best-in-class services. Founded in 1973, United Home Care is an Impact Partner of the United Way of Miami, a Lead Agency for the Alliance for Aging, and a contracted provider for home health services by all managed care plans participating in the Florida Medicaid Long-Term Care Program. UHC is your choice selection when transitioning from a hospital or rehab to your home. For more information about care services and volunteer opportunities, please contact the experts at United Home Care at 305-716-0710 or visit www.unitedhomecare.com.
