Operation Linking Loved Ones, an effort to power the connections between residents of senior care facilities and their loved ones in the wake of the COVD-19 pandemic, was launched in key cities across the country by Involta, an industry-leading hybrid IT, cloud computing and data center services company. Operation Linking Loved Ones initially emerged organically among Involta’s dedicated employees who had a desire to help virtually connect family members. Even as social distancing guidelines begin to ease nationwide, for their own health and safety, elderly residents have not been able to have the one-on-one personal connections that are so important to their quality of life. Involta is helping to provide those connections by donating the tablets and infrastructure needed for video chats.
Just in time for Father’s Day, Involta initiated Operation Linking Loved Ones in three of the markets that they serve, Cedar Rapids, IA, Tucson, AZ, and Youngstown, OH. This heart-warming effort will enable virtual visits with family members who cannot enter elder care facilities for the residents’ health and safety.
Operation Linking Loved Ones in Action
Donated tablets are mounted on mobile carts and are thoroughly sanitized before being moved between patient rooms. Additionally, Operation Linking Loved Ones provides training for facility staff members and residents on virtual meeting platforms and best practices.
Recently, at Evergreen Estates in Cedar Rapids, IA, where the effort was sparked and where Involta is headquartered, a resident was able to video chat with his granddaughter across the world in Scotland. Without this meaningful effort, that connection would not have been possible.
“The sheer joy on the faces of residents and their family members who are able to connect in this way is priceless,” comments Bruce Lehrman, CEO of Involta, “It’s a small thing that we can do that makes a huge difference in the lives of these residents.”
Expanding the Connections
Operation Linking Loved Ones is now connecting families at Evergreen Estates in Cedar Rapids, IA, Shepherd of the Valley in Youngstown, OH and Devon Gables Rehabilitation Center in Tucson, AZ. An added benefit of virtual connections is that residents can connect with family members despite the distance.
Involta employee Ron Latessa made the connection to Shepherd of the Valley, in the Youngstown, OH area. In Tucson, Devon Gables Administrator Heather Friebus and Involta Sales Development Representative Porsha Martinez, friends for more than 35 years, brought the project to life.
Coming Together to Grow the Operation
Involta decided to combine efforts with other organizations in the tech infrastructure community who had been focused on similar initiatives. Cedar Rapids-based MobileDemand was among the first to join forces with Involta on the expanded program.
“We are proud to have had the opportunity to provide rugged cases and mounting hardware to LA County healthcare facilities,” comments Matt Miller, President, MobileDemand. “We jumped at the opportunity to be able to extend our offer to assist the older population in our local market of Cedar Rapids.” MobileDemand will contribute numerous tablets and rugged cases (with the additional benefit of being mountable on IV stands, rolling tables and bedside safety bars) to the Operation Linking Loved Ones effort.
Involta hopes to expand this initiative industry-wide, challenging colleagues and peers to enable tech in ways that power those personal connections that are so difficult today.
To learn more about Operation Linking Loved Ones and join the effort, please inquire at [email protected]. To read the full announcement, click here.
