VOLUNTEER: Befriend the lonely

“I have a friend,” the once lonely Mary exclaimed, the smile in her voice obvious as she talked on the phone with me at the Area Agency on Aging. I match volunteers with lonely and isolated seniors in their homes and in Long Term Care facilities. The program is called The Friendship Corps. If you have a place in your heart for seniors and have been thinking of volunteering to help others, this may be just the thing for you.

There are many seniors living alone in their homes or apartments who have little contact with others and don’t know where or how to get help. Loneliness and isolation have become a way of life. In-Home Friendly Visitors provide companionship as well as information about community resources. Mary told me that she and her new friend were going to bake cookies next visit. Sometimes Friendly Visitors engage in games or hobbies, reading or listening to music, or just plain talking and reminiscing.

People in assisted living and skilled nursing facilities can feel lonely and isolated too, even though they are surrounded by others. It’s amazing the difference a Friendly Visitor can make to the quality of life of a resident who has lost the joy of living. When seniors move into long term care facilities it’s because they can no longer live safely at home. They give up independence, belongings, social ties and activities. The familiarity of home is replaced by unfamiliar surroundings and people, and a different way of living.

I’m inviting volunteers to join the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Friendship Corps whether for in-home, long term care, or both. We serve clients in Kootenai County and in the Sandpoint area. The Friendship Corps currently has 47 volunteers. The need is great! The waiting list has grown to 22 clients wanting a friendly visitor from the Friendship Corps. The training is approximately 2 1/2 hours and the time commitment for visitation is totally up to you and the client.

Volunteering is good for you. It is well documented that volunteers have fewer health issues as they age. Being a Friendly Visitor is a great way to do something good for others in your community and yourself at the same time.

Please call or email me if volunteering with the Friendship Corps is something that feels right for you: (208) 667-3179 ext. 227, or dhoover@aaani.org.

DAVE HOOVER

Coeur d’Alene