May 22, 2023

Seniors are coping with a “loneliness epidemic,” according to various news reports over the last few years. Loneliness is a problem at any age. Numerous studies have shown that it can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline, among other effects.
Above: Wellspring’s Sheila McMackin, left, with Sean Martin, board president of the Chicago chapter of LBFE; Simone Mitchell-Peterson, CEO of the Chicago chapter of LBFE; and Stefania Wnuk of Poland. Bottom: Attendees at the Paris conference. |
Wellspring caregivers know that the many benefits of our in-home care include the companionship and connection it provides for our clients. Whether we’re with them for a few hours a day or 24/7, we hear from them and see in their faces the comfort our visits provide.
Knowing the importance of tackling loneliness is what has inspired Wellspring’s founder, Sheila McMackin, MSW, LCSW, in her long-time volunteer work with an international organization called LBFE (Little Brothers/Friends of the Elderly). “LBFE is the world leader in identifying and addressing the impact of loneliness on older adults,” says Sheila.
Founded in 1946 in France, LBFE started as a way to serve “elderly Parisians who had lost their savings and family members in World War II,” according to the LBFE’s Chicago chapter. The founder’s motto, it explains, was “flowers before bread, [which] expresses the spirit that man does not live by bread alone; it is the human touch that makes life worth living.” Today, volunteers around the world visit elders who are isolated, deliver free holiday meals, and provide parties and other opportunities for group socializing.
Sheila has been volunteering with the Chicago chapter for many years, and has served on their board of directors for about five years. Because of her long-term involvement, she was invited to attend LBFE’s International Federation Conference in Paris, France, in April. She was one of 80 attendees from LBFE chapters around the world who gathered to discuss their programs, ways to expand their services, and challenges they face.
“One of the unique things I found,” says Sheila, “is that everyone talked about the impact of the Ukrainian war on the work they’re doing. Chapters who are closer to Ukraine are taking massive numbers of refugees and trying to make maximum use of resources. Resources for people in general are already tight, then you add all these refugees.” LBFE and other organizations are trying to ameliorate loneliness and help people who are living in poverty.
Closer to home, representatives from Michigan’s upper peninsula described how they chop and deliver wood to elderly neighbors. It’s a rural area and many homes are heated only by wood. “Each chapter is focused on meeting the exact needs of their elders, whatever that may be,” says Sheila.
If you’d like to learn more about the impact of loneliness on older people, read this article from the National Institute on Aging.