"Friendship is Just a Phone Call Away"
Senior Focus - August 1997
Telephone reassurance programs help homebound senior citizens stay connected.
As we age, getting out and meeting with friends and family can be difficult, but the telephone can help remove barriers to staying in touch. Many charities and senior-service agencies across the country have recognized the power of the phone and developed programs aimed at linking seniors with a friendly voice on the other end of the line.
Experts at the Huffington Center on Aging at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston say telephone reassurance programs provide a safety net for seniors who live alone or whose families live out of town. For many people, the daily three- to five-minute call is their only contact with the "outside world," and it can make a major difference.
The calls give people an opportunity to talk about how their day is going and how they are feeling, providing a vital connection to another person who is genuinely interested in their lives. This connection can lift the spirits of the elderly person, raise self-esteem and even help ward off depression -- a common ailment among older people.
The ongoing conversations also serve as a way of checking on the health and welfare of the elderly. Since the calls take place at the same time each day, if the person does not answer the phone, the volunteer caller will contact the next member in the "safety net." This is usually a next-door neighbor who can check on the person. Other, more subtle clues about the person’s health might be noticed from talking each day that can trigger the first step in getting the person medical assistance. The calls are also a way of seeing if medications or groceries are needed.
Telephone reassurance programs, available through several senior-assistance centers or local United Way agencies, give seniors something to look forward to each day and someone they can count on as a friend.
