“Taking the Fear Out Of Living Alone”
Senior citizens living alone can present a significant problem for their families, their neighbors, their communities and themselves notes a National Academy of Sciences study. Both isolation and loneliness are associated with higher risk of mortality in adults aged 52 years and older.
“People who live longer and lack social contacts may be at increased risk of death if acute symptoms develop,” notes the study. “That’s because there is less of a network of confidantes to prompt medical attention,” the study concludes.
Researchers suggest that isolation causes or worsens several conditions:
- Depression
- Ill health
- Accidents and Falls
- Substance abuse
The Cathedral City Senior Center does everything it can to serve the needs of all seniors living in and around Cathedral City. Many seniors make this task easy because they show up for the activities of the center. For one reason or another, other seniors remain isolated in their homes. Helping this group becomes significantly more challenging.
“The center has started a new program – Friendly Callers – that reaches out to isolated people by telephone. One part of the program has volunteers making live calls on a routine basis, giving social contact and helping people avoid the pitfalls of isolation. The other part of the program is ‘automated calls.’ If the client doesn’t pick up after two or three tries, center personnel follow up by contacting the local authorities.
“This isn’t an especially new idea,” Executive Director Robert McKechnie says. “Other senior centers have been doing something like this for a number of years. We just realized the other centers aren’t successfully covering all the need in our area.”
“We’re clear about what we’d like to achieve with this program,” McKechnie indicates. “We want to provide contact and comfort for isolated clients. We also look forward to enhancing and assuring their safety. Finally, we expect to reduce the risk of negative health complications.”
Two well-known local funders, the Coachella Valley Wellness Foundation and the Grace Helen Spearman Charitable Foundation, joined with private donors to set up and maintain this program for its first year.
Citizens who know friends and neighbors who live alone and could use the service, call Bob McKechnie or Pat Graves at the Senior Center – 760-321-1548. People may also learn about volunteering with ‘Friendly Callers’ or other programs at the center.
