The Letter Box Project

Introduction:

Elephant in the room: senior isolation is a big issue. Social isolation is a growing concern for seniors, particularly those living in long-term care facilities or who have limited social interactions. According to the National Institute on Aging, nearly one-quarter of adults aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated, and over 40% of seniors report feeling lonely. This lack of social connection can have serious consequences for mental and physical health, including increased risks for depression, cognitive decline, and even mortality. 

This issue hits my heart like an 18-wheeler on the freeway. Tiny toddler Angie was raised by her grandparents, who taught her how to sing traditional opera, roll dumplings, and recite her times tables. Despite experiencing both the brutal consequences of the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and the difficulties of immigrating to America in the 2000s, they've spared no love when it comes to me and my sister. However, as I've grown older, I witnessed how isolation has affected their lives. With lips of foreign song and friends lost to time, their world has become quieter, and their faces more weary. 

This project is dedicated to my beautiful, headstrong grandma, Yuling, and wonderful grandpa, Jicun: they are undoubtedly the two most exceptional human beings I'll ever meet. 

My grandparents proved to me the power of authenticity and resilience, no matter what life throws at you. To them, I am forever indebted. 

Science serves the people.

-Angie X.