Adopt a Grandparent Day is personal for Katie Hancock, vice president and branch manager for The Citizens Bank.
Her grandmother was in a nursing home out of state, and the experience made Hancock acutely aware of the loneliness many seniors face without having regular visitors.
“So many residents don’t have family that can visit regularly and can get very lonely” she says. “Now that all of my own grandparents have passed away, it is a way for me to continue to honor their memory.”
For four years, The Citizens Bank has been a dedicated Adopt a Grandparent Day supporter. Hancock explains that loan officer Sheryl Mathieu brought the initiative to the bank’s attention, and it has since grown to become a much-loved tradition for Hancock and her team, who will be participating again on Sept. 14.
The bank first adopted a local nursing home near their St. Martin branch. Over the years, their involvement has grown, focusing on bringing creative and thoughtful gifts to the residents.
“We try to be more creative in the items we purchase for their treasure box so that we can surprise them with items they normally wouldn’t receive,” Hancock says.
The most rewarding part of this initiative for Hancock and her team is witnessing the residents’ joy and appreciation. The companionship and conversations are just as valued as the gifts themselves. “Seeing the joy on the faces of the residents and how appreciative they are of the little things is incredibly rewarding,” Hancock says.
This year, The Citizens Bank will collect items at each branch for a chosen nursing home. On Adopt a Grandparent Day, they will deliver these items and host an event for the residents, complete with games, trivia, coloring and gift-giving. The bank staff brings their children and grandchildren, adding extra joy for the residents.
Hancock emphasizes the importance of dispelling myths about nursing homes and the elderly. “You realize that they just want to have a conversation about the things that are important to them, like their former careers or grandchildren,” she says. “We find that we have many things in common.”
Hancock encourages others to participate, highlighting the experience’s simplicity and joy.
“Don’t hesitate to participate,” she says. “It is easy and fun, and your efforts are truly appreciated by the residents and staff at the facilities.
