No Elder Should Feel Forgotten. We're Changing That.
In rural Jamaica, thousands of older adults live without regular in-person visits, reliable transportation, or nearby support — despite being deeply loved by families who live too far away to be there consistently.
This matters more than most people realize. Social isolation among older adults is a significant public health concern. Research shows it is associated with a 30% increased risk of mortality — comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day¹ — and is linked to a 50% increased risk of dementia and a 30% increased risk of stroke.²
Families are doing their best from a distance. The Vera May Foundation (VMF) exists to support that care with consistent, in-person presence.
Through local volunteers and community-based support, VMF helps bridge the gap — ensuring elders remain seen, supported, and meaningfully connected within the communities they helped build.
By supporting VMF, donors and volunteers help transform care from occasional contact into consistent connection.
¹ Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2024
² National Academies of Sciences; National Library of Medicine
What Should Take a Phone Call Shouldn't Take a Flight.
When our founder could not find a single organization to help an isolated 84-year-old friend get to church seven minutes away, she booked a flight from Atlanta to Jamaica herself. What should have taken a phone call took a transatlantic flight.
VMF was born from that moment — so that flight becomes a choice, not a desperate last resort.
Have a Loved One in Jamaica?
Families abroad shouldn’t have to worry from thousands of miles away. Sign your loved one up and we'll visit, check in, and send you a video update —so distance never feels too far.
Expanding Our Impact
"Take care of as many people as you can. Make sure they are fed." — Yvan Freemond
Yvan Freemond Memorial Drive
Through the Yvan Freemond Memorial Drive, we provide direct financial support for food and basic needs — helping elders in Haiti access essential care and transportation through trusted local relationships, with a focus on dignity and respect.