Sandra Orlow is a social worker and advocate who has dedicated her life to helping the elderly. Based in New York, she founded Wellbridge Alliance, one of the first non-profit senior centers in the country, which works to combat loneliness and social isolation among seniors. Through her tireless efforts over 30 years, Sandra has helped thousands of elders live with dignity and purpose.
Early Life and Inspiration
Sandra was born in 1946 in Brooklyn, New York. She came from a big, tight-knit Italian family where elders were highly respected. From a young age, she was taught the importance of caring for and spending time with her grandparents. This instilled in her a deep reverence for the elderly. After graduating from college, Sandra observed how many seniors in her community struggled with loneliness as their children moved away. She was pained to see how isolation was negatively impacting their health and quality of life. This stirred a desire in her to do something about it. Sandra orlow
Starting Wellbridge Alliance
In 1982, armed with only passion and determination, Sandra founded Wellbridge Alliance. It started small from her backyard as a gathering place for socially isolated elders to come together, share meals and participate in activities. Word quickly spread of the welcoming environment Sandra was creating. Within a few years, Wellbridge grew into a full-fledged non-profit senior center located in Manhattan. Today it operates various programs across New York to help seniors tackle issues like loneliness, community involvement and daily care needs.
- Meal program: This program provides hot, nutritious meals at the center and home-delivered meals for homebound seniors.
- Social activities—Daily classes, events and outings keep seniors active and engaged with others. Popular activities include exercises, art, current events discussions and games.
- Volunteer opportunities—Wellbridge offers many volunteer roles for seniors who want to stay useful and productive, such as helping in the kitchen, greeting others or conducting office work.
- Caregiver support groups—Wellbridge facilitates support groups and education sessions for family members caring for ill loved ones.
- Home care assistance – Trained aides make home visits for activities of daily living help, light chores and companionship.
Combating Loneliness
Loneliness has been called the ‘silent epidemic’ plaguing America’s elderly. Being socially isolated cuts life expectancy almost as much as obesity and increases the risk of dementia. Through her years of work, Sandra has seen firsthand how detrimental loneliness can be to health and happiness. Wellbridge tackles this issue on multiple fronts. It gets seniors out of their homes and participating in activities together. The center fosters a sense of community where friendships develop. Outreach workers also call homebound seniors regularly for social interaction. Studies show these efforts have helped reduce loneliness and depression significantly among participants.
A Leader and Champion
Sandra’s accomplishments with Wellbridge Alliance have earned her much recognition. She received the Purpose Prize in 2018 for her work in fighting elder loneliness. She is on the board of the National Association of Senior Centers and advises numerous aging organizations globally. Sandra is a frequent public speaker raising awareness about issues impacting seniors. She was honored by the city of New York for her contributions. Through it all, Sandra remains deeply committed to her mission. Her energetic and compassionate leadership continues to impact countless lives positively.
Staying Relevant in Changing Times
As demographics shift and technology evolves, Wellbridge, under Sandra’s guidance, has adapted programs to remain relevant. For instance, it launched a telefriendliness program where volunteers call lonely seniors just to chat. During the pandemic, when in-person visits halted, Wellbridge expanded its virtual offerings like online classes, activities and counseling. It also focuses on educating families on how to prevent isolation as more elders now live independently. Going forward, Sandra sees opportunities to utilize technologies like video calling, smartphones, and telehealth to further service delivery. Her innovative spirit will keep Wellbridge at the forefront of tackling elder loneliness.
Sandra’s Rewarding Journey
After over 30 years dedicated to serving seniors, Sandra has no plans to slow down. When asked what drives her constant commitment, she replies it is the reward of seeing the light return to people’s eyes and smiles on their faces. Small gestures like a hand squeeze or thank you note fuel her to keep going. While the hardships of ageing cannot be avoided, Sandra believes through community support, every senior deserves to feel valued with a sense of purpose. Her efforts have uplifted thousands of lives and left an indelible mark on how we view and treat our elders. Today at 76, Sandra’s zeal and advocacy continue to shine a light for those experiencing darkness in their final seasons of life.
