|
Even the most cursory look at our national demographics reveals one undeniable fact: We are an aging population. Yet despite the statistics, we often forget our elders, forsaking all they have taught us and the rich tapestry of stories still waiting to be told. Many older people remain isolated from the community whether living alone or in assisted-living homes.
“We all need to do something right now to make this country a better place to age,” says Cass Forkin, founder and executive director of the Twilight Wish Foundation. Through her work, Forkin seeks to grant the elderly another chance at life, one wish at a time. Founded in 2003, she describes the non-profit organization as “a local charity with a national footprint.”
Headquartered in Doylestown, the Twilight Wish Foundation boasts of 13 other chapters around the country. To date, it has granted about 1,250 wishes, 400 in Bucks and Montgomery counties as well as Philadelphia. So far, wishes have ranged from arranging a ride in the sidecar of a motorcycle for a centenarian to an octogenarian enjoying a flight in a biplane. They also grant quality-of-life wishes, which might include delivering vital items like wheelchairs and hearing aids, or the simple things like yarn or books that make every day just a little bit easier.
From tickets to baseball games and Broadway shows, the foundation also grants what they’ve dubbed as “one more time” wishes. “It can be something they’ve always wanted to do [again] but never had the opportunity or money to do it,” Forkin says. Some fulfilled dreams have included going back to work as a teacher, a waitress or a postman for a day or seeing one’s hometown again. And while seemingly simple on the surface, granting these wishes carries extraordinary weight. Last November, the organization sent a World War II veteran back to the beaches of Normandy on Veteran’s Day.
“This is a very spiritual thing,” Forkin says. “This charity doesn’t exist because I had a lot of money I didn’t know what to do with. I prayed, and this foundation was the answer I received. Sometimes, we don’t even know how the wishes get granted.” But somehow, through sheer grit and determination, Forkin and her staff have managed to deliver. “What we do is pretty amazing,” she says. “This is all about saying thank you to seniors.”
Wish recipients receive a formal numbered certificate describing their life accomplishments and wish-specific details. Eligible seniors must be over the age of 68 or a permanent resident of an eldercare facility; have an income 200 percent below the current poverty level; have the physical and cognitive ability to formulate, communicate and participate in the wish; and have a documented history of contributing positively to the welfare of others over their lifetime. “We grant wishes to seniors who have given back to their families and the community by being foster parents, caretakers, things like that,” says Forkin. Over one-third of the wishes the Twilight Wish Foundation grants are for veterans.
Determined to bridges gaps between generations within communities, Forkin strives to get younger people involved with volunteering. “We get a lot of schools, clubs and organizations helping out,” she says. “We try to really engage our volunteers.” Local organizations like the Lions Club, the Rotary Club and Bucks Neighborhood have all participated in granting wishes. Recently, a class at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church bought Wii Fit games for a local nursing home and taught the seniors how to play.
“Twilight Wish Moments,” a recently published book documenting 65 granted wishes and the stories behind each, is a kind of call to action, according to Forkin. She hopes to raise awareness about issues on aging in America. “We have definitely made a difference,” Forkin says. “We are making the world a nicer place to age.”
Go online at twilightwish.org