Focus on Companionship
By Bobbie Kaplan
RSVP volunteers provide valuable services as companions who reduce social isolation, primarily among isolated seniors. Volunteers in programs do the following: make friendly visits to homebound seniors or nursing home residents; make weekly telephone reassurance calls to lonely seniors; moderate weekly chats about various topics to engage isolated individuals in conversation and keep them connected to their community; help visually impaired individuals by escorting them to medical appointments or shopping; serve as tenant patrol volunteers; write friendly greeting cards; and more. In this issue, we will highlight some partners and volunteers in this area.
At the end of the day, volunteers know that by giving so much of themselves, they get so much back in return: their own feelings of sadness or loneliness seem to melt away.
Partner Spotlight: Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly
In 1939, the founder of Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly, Armand Marquiset from Paris, was praying
in Notre Dame when he had a mystical vision. He saw Little Brothers "spreading across the earth, igniting little fires of love."*
"We offer people of good will the opportunity to join the elderly in friendship and the celebration of life."
Jerome went on to say, "What really makes us stand out as an organization is our lifetime commitment to the elders we serve, and the services are free of charge. There are four programs we offer:"