Brookdale Home Health in Fort Walton Beach held its first-ever toiletry drive, collecting 350 personal-care items to help meet the needs of the residents of Twin Cities Pavilion, a not-for-profit assisted living facility in Niceville. The drive was initiated by Jenelle Conner, Brookdale’s home health coordinator, after she learned that some of its residents, like many seniors on fixed incomes, have a hard time affording simple items such as soap, shampoo, deodorant and toilet paper.

According to the National Council on Aging, more than 25 million Americans aged 60 or older are economically insecure, living at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level. These older adults struggle with the rising cost of living expenses, inadequate nutrition, lack of access to transportation and diminished savings on a very fixed income. Often they must choose between basic necessities such as food, medications and toiletries. 

“These items will help seniors stretch their budgets so they can use their money for other needed items,” Conner says. “While I know the residents of Twin Cities Pavilion’s needs will always be met by their internal community and staff, I felt like we as a larger community could do more to not only collect items, but to bring awareness to this growing problem.” 

Twin Cities Pavilion is still in need of twin-sized plastic mattress covers, manicure items, money and small bingo prizes. For donation information, call Amanda Atwell, resident care assistant at Twin Cities Pavilion, at 850-833-9212.