SACPA guest says seniors facing even more isolation

Many seniors in our city say they are in need of a friendly voice or message through a simple phone call. The Keep In Touch Program run by Volunteer Lethbridge aims to pair volunteers with seniors in isolation. The program is currently seeking funding and donations to keep going. The Alberta Mental Health and Addiction funds which support this program will dry up by February of next year. During a presentation for SACPA, Connie-Marie Reidlhuber, the Seniors keep In Touch Project Coordinator with Volunteer Lethbridge, says the 4th wave of the pandemic has caused seniors to feel even more isolated and depressed.

From April of last year to September of this year, there has been 1,787 hours of volunteer engagement through phone calls. Since the program began, there have been 169 pairings, 85 volunteers, and 112 participants.