Holiday season means dishing up meals, entertainment & engagement... IF you're 'In the Loop'
Female business visionaries develop online community
Now that we are officially into the 2021 holiday season, many are turning their thoughts to being able to reconnect with family and friends.
The devastating impacts of Covid-19 including loss of life, altered travel, and not to mention the hesitancy and restrictions of getting together wondering who has or has not been vaccinated... well, all of this has put a major wrench into the social aspect of the holidays.
Even before Covid-19, the reality for many elders who do not live near family might have meant spending a great deal of time alone. In some cases; that might be by choice. But for many others that can lead to feelings of isolation.
As we’ve recently talked about here at Keeping it REAL Caregiving, technology is increasingly coming into the mix to help alleviate some of that ‘disconnection.’
If you missed previous articles on bridging the digital divide and using computers to increase connections, check those out here…
Looping in
Keeping it REAL Caregiving recently caught up with one of the founders and developers of a new online community with a mission: to bring the world to elders and others who might otherwise be somewhat isolated. The purpose is to offer and increase moments for interaction and engagement.
Maria Botham/The Loop Village & Julia Yarbough/KIRC
The Loop Village is an online platform, that offers subscribers a chance to virtually join others for meals, activities, classes, trips to museums and more.
Maria Botham is the brain-child of The Loop Village. She is an entrepreneur who has developed and launched numerous successful businesses throughout her career.
Botham says she partnered with several other equally successful female business leaders, one of whom owned a care agency for more than 20-years. The women put their respective business skills and visions together to create Loop.
Here's part of my conversation with Botham
Q: What is the concept of Loop Village and what is the goal?
A: Loop Village is a live virtual community to address senior isolation. You can hop online and you'll always have something to do, someone to talk with and someone to eat with. It’s a bonding community for seniors so they have something of their own.
We’re really trying to fortify the lives of seniors; not only for themselves but also their family members and caregivers.
Q: How can this concept help caregivers?
A: So, a caregiver comes into the home of a senior and they have a lot on their plate. They often have to feed them, bathe and administer medication and then be responsible for emotional focus. So if you come equipped with Loop, there’s a lot of emotional focus. We are able to be present; we’re able to create bonds that enhance these seniors’ lives in ways they didn’t realize they could have, right in front of them -- front row seat.
Q: How does the program work?
A: You log on and get a calendar of what’s going on that day. Maybe you start with meditation at 9:00 AM, then pop into yoga at 11:00, then you have lunch with us at 12:30. Maybe later in the afternoon you go to Spain and listen to music. Everyday is a little bit different but we also have our regular thing, which is the cafe.
Screenshot The Loop Village
Q: How vital is the connection between food, meals and interaction?
A: We don’t really talk about food, but hydration and nutrition are a big deal with seniors, A lot of the seniors who have food delivered, that may be the only time they are seeing someone that day, so the food either goes to the dog, into the trash or it sits in the fridge. So if you have someone to do that [eat] with, you are more than 70% more likely to actually eat and hydrate.
Q: What is the long-term vision for Loop Village?
A: We are not aiming to be a cottage business. We’re aiming to be the size of a Netflix business. You’re helping seniors, you’re helping their family members. And we will also have classes available about how to age successfully. Instead of growing old, you’re growing whole.
Q: Why now and what is the personal impact?
A: I’ve started many companies but I’ve never started a mission-driven company. In today’s Universe, whether you’re a Loop or making a widget, you have to have a mission. Working with the seniors; they’ve lived so much life and they are so over the ‘polish.’
There is just a massive fulfillment and almost magical experience; the seniors are so bright and colorful and full of wisdom.
So the fact that I’ve started a company that is going to impact millions of people, I can’t tell you how much that fulfills me.
What next?
Botham tells me a formal launch of the company is set for the first part of 2022. However, the platform is already up and running and anyone with internet access can take part.
Screenshot The Loop Village
Keep in mind, the various offerings of The Loop Village are not free - it is a subscription-based program.
If any of you decide to sign up, KIRC would love to have you share your experiences thoughts and feedback with the rest of the KIRC family!
Until next time~
Ciao~
*Header Image: Courtesy/Getty Images/Kali9*
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