In January 2008, Project Smile
officially launched the Operation Elder Care program. This program
donates stuffed animals to elderly residents of nursing homes.
While obtaining feedback from participating departments, Project Smile
learned that stuffed animals are frequently used to help calm elderly
people who come into contact with police or paramedics and are
suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's. Stuffed animals can offer the
same level of comfort to an elderly person as they do to a child.
Based on that feedback and feedback from people who work extensively
with elderly patients in nursing homes and/or hospitals, Project Smile
decided to launch Operation Elder Care.
