14-year-old starts movement to touch the lives of the elderly | Jacob Cramer | TEDxYouth@Cincinnati

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

Jacob Cramer, 14 years old, speaks passionately about the importance of showing the elderly the kindness and respect they deserve. Jacob has received and distributed over 10,000 heartfelt letters of love and compassion from over 40 different countries.

Jacob Cramer is a 14-year-old high school student residing in Pepper Pike, OH. Inspired by his grandfather's death in 2010, he founded an organization called Love for the Elderly in hopes of inspiring people across the globe to reach out to the elderly with love and kindness. Love for the Elderly collects handwritten letters of kindness written by strangers throughout the world, proceeding to send these letters to nursing homes throughout the country.

Thank you.

My grandfather passed away
in August of 2010.

His death left a major impact on me.

I began to understand
just how precious life is

recognizing the true vulnerability
of the elderly.

Being just ten years old,

I was truly struck by the vulnerability
and loneliness of the elderly.

Seeing someone you love so dearly
in such a weak and miserable state

is really heartbreaking.

I wanted to make a difference
in the lives of the elderly

in honor of my grandfather.

This motivated me to begin volunteering
in my local nursing home, Montefiore.

There, I had the incredible opportunity

to establish strong relationships
with many of the residents.

Sadly, I have seen many
of my old friends come and go.

In particular,

I forged a beautiful friendship
with the sweetest woman named Cynthia.

Unfortunately, I was her only visitor.

I would walk into her room
every Sunday afternoon,

excited to delve into the world of stocks,

participate in a heated debate
on Obama's healthcare policies,

or just listen to enlightening tales
of her childhood.

It was easy to overlook
the labyrinth of tubes

running throughout her room

and her inability to move
the majority of her body

because once I got to know

the wonderful woman
inside the 77-year-old Cynthia,

I knew I'd found myself a true friend.

On February, 7 of this year,
Cynthia passed away,

but her memory
will always live on in my heart.

She made it clear to me

that the elderly have really paved
the pathway of success for my generation,

and they have so many
invaluable experiences

that we can all benefit
our own lives from.

My experiences at Montefiore
really opened my eyes

to the reality of isolation and loneliness
that so many elderly people face.

I got to witness firsthand
the situations of nursing home residents:

having little connection
to the outside world

and nothing to which
they can look forward.

I wanted to change this.

By combining my passion for letter-writing
and my desire to give back to the elderly,

I founded an organization
called Love for the Elderly.

So many elderly people in our nation
are neglected, isolated, and forgotten.

The elderly are
an incredible group of people,

and they deserve to be appreciated.

It is so imperative to demonstrate
kindness and love to the elderly,

an awe-inspiring assemblage

who have immense wisdom and knowledge
from which we can all learn.

Even if they are living in nursing homes,

possibly immobile
or dependent on medication,

they are still human beings,
amazing ones at that.

Wouldn't you want someone to support you

with love, with kindness,
and with compassion

during your final
and most precious stage of life?

We need to treat the elderly
the way they deserve to be treated.

Since December of 2013,

I've collected
handwritten letters of kindness,

written by strangers
from all across the globe,

which I then distribute
to various nursing homes

throughout the country.

These letters are
simply short and sweet notes,

filled with the words of kindness,

designed to make
the elderly recipient feel loved,

thus combating isolation
and loneliness in nursing homes.

It is so important that we make sure

that the elderly are appreciated
and do not feel alone.

I started this organization by myself,

in the comfort of my own living room
writing my own letters.

Soon, I gained the support
of a few of my friends,

which pushed me to teach myself
about branding and marketing,

search engine optimization

(Laughter)

and website design.

Now Love for the Elderly has really grown

beyond where I could have
ever imagined it being.

People from all across the globe
have united with me

in an attempt
to spread love to the elderly.

To this day, I've received
over 10,000 letters

from 43 countries in six continents.

It's really heartwarming to see
the outpour of support

I've received from various nursing homes.

(Applause)

Here's one response I received

from a nursing home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa,
called Prairie Hills Nursing Home,

"I just finished distributing
the stack of letters

that your organizations sent us and wow!

I am blown away!

After dinner,
when I gave them the letters,

each of our residents
went to bed with a smile!

The letters are all so wonderful,
they are true gifts of love and kindness!

Thank you so very much
for sending these letters.

The smiles on the faces
of our residents were priceless

when they read the letters!"

It is so heartwarming
to read these responses,

and it continues to motivate me

to make a difference
in the lives of the elderly.

Whether it'd be through my organization

or simply by reconnecting
with the elders in your life,

you can generate change
in the lives of the elderly.

Kindness is like a spark;

once lit, it spreads uncontrollably.

Ignite your spark.

(Applause)

(Cheers)

I think that all of you have postcards

on the back of your name badges.

If you would take those out,

along with the pen you received
when you came in here,

I would absolutely love it

if all of you could write letters
for my organization.

These letters
are just short and sweet notes,

filled with words of kindness,

designed to make
the elderly recipient feel loved.

Tell them about yourself,
tell them a joke or a riddle,

and make sure that they know
that they are appreciated.

Please address them as "Dear friend,"
or even a simple "Hello there!"

One person can make a difference,
and everyone should try.

So we're going to try right now.

Bob Herzog: You realize you just got
an entire room full of adults

to do exactly what you wanted them to do?

(Laughter)

You get how cool that is?
I mean, you know, right?

(Laughter)

Jacob Cramer: Thank you all so much
for writing letters for my organization

and for being such a wonderful audience;
I really appreciate it.

BH: How about Jacob?
Thanks buddy! Thank you.

(Applause)