Hospital’s Community Friendship Volunteer Program helps reduce social isolation among older adults
Loneliness and social isolation are a growing public health concern. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General’s Office released “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.” The report highlights data showing that loneliness is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety and premature death. The highest rates of social isolation are found among adults age 65 or older.
To reduce social isolation and loneliness among older adults and help improve their health and well-being, Elizabethtown (N.Y.) Community Hospital launched the Community Friendship Volunteer Program in fall 2024. Developed with Mercy Care for the Adirondacks, a nonprofit organization that provides support services for seniors, the program pairs older adults with volunteers who provide companionship and support, but not clinical assistance. All volunteers must complete an application and background check.
“Too often seniors in our community experience social isolation and loneliness, and this can have drastic effects on their health,” observes Julie Tromblee, vice president and chief nursing officer at Elizabethtown Community Hospital, part of the University of Vermont Health Network.
Program volunteers visit older adults at their home or talk by telephone and may assist with correspondence and with shopping or other errands. Together, a volunteer and older adult may plan outings, enjoy music and literature, and participate in crafts, gardening or other activities. Families, friends and older adults themselves can request a volunteer match, and all services are free.
The hospital is part of the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative and views its volunteer program as complementary support. “The AFHS and Community Friendship Volunteer Program help ensure that we are supporting seniors both here at the hospital and in their own home,” Tromblee said.