In Search of Italian Speaker to Make A Connection with an Elder!

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Not only has the COVID-19 coronavirus placed older adults and adults living with disabilities at very high risk of serious illness or death, but it has also made them more susceptible to social isolation and loneliness. Many older adults already live with a deep sense of disconnection from their community but the pandemic and related social distancing measures have made their sense of social isolation much worse.

The Social Engagement Program at Mystic Valley Elder Services is designed to help improve the health and well-being of isolated older adults in the community by providing meaningful social connection-whether it be through telephone calls, email, or eventually, regular visits.

We are looking for local volunteers who can get started now from the comfort and safety of your home! More detailed information about the program is below.

Our agency serves a diverse population, and this program will be no exception. It is our mission to recruit a diverse cohort of volunteers, and we encourage bilingual volunteers to ensure that all of our consumers feel heard! In addition to speaking their native language, cultural connections can also help build an even stronger connection. Currently, we are in search of an Italian speaker!

More about the Social Engagement Program at MVES!

There are three different options for program participants. Volunteers may choose one that is best for them, or could be involved in two, or all three!

Volunteers in all parts of this program will receive training and ongoing support. Considering that the goal of this program is to offer meaningful connections, we do ask that volunteers commit to a minimum of 1 year of service. Our expectation is that everyone would begin by being matched with just one person, however, if you are interested, we could potentially match with you up to 5 individuals looking for someone to connect with!

The Social Engagement Program includes the following services:

• Telephone Reassurance Volunteers call an isolated individual, offering a social contact and friendly conversation. This program asks for a commitment of approximately 2-4 hours per week.
• Email Pen Pal Program Volunteers provide a regular social and supportive email communication. This program requires a commitment of approximately 1-2 hours per week.
• Friendly Visitor ProgramVolunteers provide home visits that focus on in-person socialization and companionship. This aspect of the program will only be done when it is safe to do so, and will ask for a commitment of approximately 1-2 hours per week. We are currently working on a design for this program to function safely for those that really need it.