As Senior Living Communities Restrict Visitation, Shannondale Launches Share

Acts of Kindness Campaign to Spread Joy and Ease Loneliness Among Seniors

In an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus amongst high-risk senior populations, senior living communities have no choice but to safeguard their residents through visitor restrictions. For many seniors, this isolation from their friends and family has been hard to understand and accept. Shannondale, a senior living provider with campuses in Knoxville and Maryville, seeks to be a leader in their community at large by sharing a smile. Without their daily activities and usual visitors residents can feel many emotions: loneliness, fear and uncertainty to name a few. But in the midst of headlines touting doom and gloom, Shannondale is finding a way to spread joy and cheer.Through the Share a Smile campaign, Shannondale urges members of their surrounding communities to spark smiles on the faces of seniors through one of three easy acts of kindness and support: cards, videos or social posts.With children and teens home from school and many parents working remotely, these activities offer a fun project to keep children occupied with gestures of goodwill to lift the spirits of seniors.To participate in Share a Smile, follow these instructions:

1. Share a Smile Cards

Cards may be sent to:Shannondale of KnoxvilleAttention: Activities Director801 Vanosdale RoadKnoxville, TN 37909 Shannondale of MaryvilleAttention: Activities Director804 Shannondale WayMaryville, TN 37803

2. Share a Smile Videos

Many children and teens enjoy filming videos, so parents are encouraged to film a video of their child sharing a positive message for seniors—or even a video meant to entertain like a joke, story, song or dance. Longer-length videos that are larger in file size can be shared via a DropBox or YouTube link. Videos or video links can be sent to marketing.dept@shannondaletn.org and will be shared with the seniors via a tablet.‍

3. Social Sharing

‍The public is encouraged to share uplifting messages, videos or photos for Shannondale’s residents by tagging Shannondale in the post and using the designated hashtag #ShareASmileProject. The posts will be reshared through Shannondale’s social media and the staff will share them with residents via tablets.Shannondale Director of Marketing Kim Golly sees the campaign as way for small acts of kindness to make a powerful impact, especially as the general public seeks ways to encourage the most vulnerable members of the population.“We’re so fortunate to live in area where people really care and are reaching out asking what they can do to help our seniors feel less alone during a time of social distancing and restrictions to protect them,” said Golly. “We hope that the campaign will catch on not only within the communities surrounding our Knoxville and Maryville campuses, but that it will galvanize people across the state and even country to share a smile.

”More information about Shannondale can be found at shannondaletn.org. Questions regarding Share a Smile should be directed to marketing.dept@shannondaletn.org.