Jiya Joshi lost her beloved grandmother at 14 and decided to volunteer at a nursing home. But getting rejected from there inspired her to begin a movement uniting generations through friendship, compassion and caring.
A love lost too soon
Jiya was only two when her grandparents arrived from India to Texas, to help care for her while her parents were at work. Her grandmother, Saroj, drove her to school and cooked her the most delicious snacks. Her entire day was wrapped around them and the two formed a close bond, sharing long conversations about life, school and friends. When she was in third grade, her grandparents returned to India, but distance only made the heart grow fonder, and they spoke on the phone regularly once a week. The year she turned 14, Jiya lost her grandmother, whom she called 'Dadi' and the loss left an aching void inside her, often leaving her feeling lonely. While she had her parents and friends to talk to, it wasn't the same. They didn't carry the same wisdom and gentle kindness as her grandmother did.
Filling the void
Within two years of service, Jiya has helped 4,000 seniors, built a network of more than 70 youth volunteers and spread the initiative in more than 11 countries through an ambassador program.
This is when an idea struck. “What if I visit a nursing home? Maybe the residents would enjoy a visit as much as I would?” she asked. Jiya decided to volunteer at a nursing home and after being put on hold several times, she finally reached the nursing home volunteer coordinator: "I want to volunteer and visit," she explained, as per a report by Woman's World. The administrator was welcoming until she learnt Jiya was only 14. “We don’t allow volunteers under 18,” she declared. “Our staff doesn’t have time to care for both children and our seniors.” Jiya's heart was crushed, and not just due to the rejection. There was also the lingering grief of having lost one of her favourite people in the world, her Dadi. After several more refusals to volunteer, she decided to do something different. “Could I come just once — a trial visit?” she asked Sharon Williams, Activities Director at Houston’s Landon Ridge Assisted Living. “If it doesn’t work, I won’t bother you again.” Williams was touched by the girl's sincerity and decided to agree. "Let's give it a try," she said and Jiya was over the moon. Jiya arrived for her first visit at the centre with a box of supplies. She approached a group of seniors in a recreation area, put on a bright smile and introduced herself. “I’m Jiya. Would you like to paint with me?” “I love painting!” exclaimed a woman named Betty and soon she was regaling Jiya with incredible tales of her years as a nurse in Vietnam. “I was a pilot fighting the Germans in World War II,” said a second resident, and a third rushed off and returned with a chunk of concrete. “You mentioned Germany; this is part of the Berlin Wall, a piece of history,” she explained. As the word of a youthful stranger spread, residents who rarely left their rooms came out to see what the excitement was about. By the end of her visit, Jiya had made a dozen new friends and spread even more smiles. “I’ve never seen them so active,” Sharon marvelled as she helped Jiya pack up. “You’re coming back, right?” Jiya returned every Saturday that summer. While the residents loved having such a lively young person around to hold conversation and company with, Jiya loved their stories and affectionate hugs.
A generational movement
When school started again, Jiya invited her friends to join her and many of them said yes. The teens visited in pairs and after a few outings, many told Jiya, "This is the most fun I've had volunteering." It was one invitation from Betty that caught her by surprise. "Betty asked me to keep her company at the senior home’s 4th of July event because she did not have any family to eat with her at the event," Jiya shared. This is when she thought about how many seniors were in need of active company. Roughly one in four Americans aged 65 and older is socially isolated, and 30–35% of seniors report feeling lonely at least some of the time. This isolation is linked to serious health risks, including higher rates of depression, heart disease, stroke, and cognitive decline. As interest spread, Jiya founded a youth-led non-profit organisation, Young and Old United, a movement that allowed teens to volunteer at elder care facilities while spreading love and support among hundreds of seniors across Houston. Generations were united through the feelings of friendship, compassion and care. Within two years of service, Jiya has helped 4,000 seniors, built a network of more than 70 youth volunteers and spread the initiative in more than 11 countries through an ambassador program. Together, they have raised $9,000 through local fundraisers and grants and partnered with dentists to obtain dental kits to include in hygiene kits. Hundreds of middle and high school students have begun making regular nursing home visits across the state. She mobilises youth volunteers to assemble and personally deliver hygiene kits to isolated and underrepresented seniors, offer spa days to senior women, and conduct senior interviews. YOU has also won thousands of dollars in grants from Youth Service America, AmeriCorps, and H.E.B and has an ongoing partnership with staff from United Airlines, providing hygiene kits. “Their eyes light up when they see her coming,” said Sharon. "My grandmother was a bright personality. She was a safe space where I could talk about anything. Then, when she left my life, I sought to regain the strongest connection I had ever built by reaching out to seniors within my own neighbourhood," Jiya told Bold Journey. “Our seniors still have so much to offer,” Jiya insists. “My grandmother taught me that. I can feel her smiling down on me!” Jiya hopes to help more than 3000+ seniors in 2026.
