Elon CARES strives to impact homebound and isolated populations of the community

A campus program in the School of Health Sciences has been created to impact physical, mental, and emotional health in homebound and isolated populations. The program will air biweekly episodes on Thursday evenings via the program's YouTube platform.

Five students in the School of Health Sciences have collaborated to form Elon CARES, a student-run video program that seeks to address physical, mental, and emotional health in homebound and isolated populations. Elon CARES is producing biweekly episodes that air Thursday nights at 6:30 p.m. on its YouTube channel.

Elon CARES logo, selected by students in the School of Health Sciences

Kathryn Balardi, Luke Friess, Sarah Henderson, Danielle Wild and Maryanne Wilson identified that the pandemic of COVID-19 brought awareness to the homebound and isolated populations of the community. These community members that have been isolated have lost opportunities of socialization and wellness with limited resources provided. Elon CARES wants to ensure every individual receives equal opportunity of growth in a community-based atmosphere.

The group of these five students communicates weekly with Faculty Advisor Professor Charity Johansson and Community Advisor Joseph Libera. Episodes will air on the YouTube channel Elon CARES, covering topics ranging from exercise to mindfulness, to caregiver burnout and much more. Each episode will be hosted by a student within the School of Health Sciences and will be 15 to 25 minutes. Elon CARES recommends that viewers consult with their primary care provider before completing activities within each episode.

Elon CARES is proudly supported by the School of Health Sciences, which encourages an interprofessional approach. The program involves the Physician Assistant and Physical Therapy departments, with the intent of incorporating the new nursing program after its first students arrive in the fall. Elon CARES looks for episode recommendations derived from student passion and expertise along with community recommendations via social media platforms.

Tune in Thursday, June 3, at 6:30 pm to watch the next episode or watch our second episode here where Hannah Cook teaches us about gratitude below:

Connect with Elon CARES on social media and by email:

Facebook: Elon Cares – https://www.facebook.com/elon.cares
Instagram: elon_cares
Email: cares.elon@gmail.com