Friendly Visitor Program: Support and Socialization for Isolated Adults

There are a variety of physical and mental health risks linked to prolonged isolation. Isolation and a lack of socialization is rampant among older adults due to challenges with mobility, living alone, and limited transportation options. This issue has ben exacerbated by the recent pandemic restrictions and health policies.

Social isolation is rampant among older adults, exacerbated by the recent pandemic.

This past June, Meals on Wheels of Loveland and Berthoud took a step to start addressing the issues of isolation with our homebound clients. We started a Friendly Visitors Pilot Program, pairing caring volunteers with at-risk clients. This program creates a supportive social structure of training for volunteers who commit to providing weekly positive interactions with homebound and isolated individuals. These important planned interactions - beyond our daily meal deliveries - provide opportunities to identify unmet needs and to provide assistance. The desired outcome is improved physical and mental health for our clients.

Our pilot program consists of 15 identified clients paired with volunteers. Volunteers received an orientation and handbook, and simple training on guidelines. They report back to our Social Worker, Kate Walker and our Client Specialists team. Support plans are created and client progress is monitored based off of the feedback the volunteers report.

So far, there has been a positive response - from both clients and volunteers:

“I don’t really have a lot of visitors.

“Having Jane come to visit gives me not only someone to talk to, but new things to think about. I love having her visit”

“I really enjoy Duane coming. He and I talk about everything, and I like the visits. Sometimes he brings me jigsaw puzzles. I have a 3000 piece right now that I am trying to put together.”

“I really love it when Cheryl comes to visit with me. We get to talk, and since I don’t have any family here, it makes me feel so much better.”

We are hopeful that the positive impact of this pilot program will continue to grow. The goal is to have it as a permanent additional client service, providing ongoing support for alleviating the physical and mental health risks linked to prolonged isolation. Supporting our clients in this manner will ultimately help them live dignified and independent lives in the comfort and safety of their own homes.