New Program Gives You a Chance to Comfort Lonely Seniors in Isolation

ElderSource's Caring Connections phone program is getting an $83,000 boost through a new grant, to offer solace to lonely older adults in Jacksonville and other Florida markets during the COVID-19 crisis, reports News4JAX . Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has banned visitors from long-term care communities until September, adding urgency to maintaining human connections for older populations. Caring Connections offers seniors a pen pal-like relationship over the phone. ElderSource employees pair volunteers with seniors, and then they call their seniors twice a week, just to check in. "They make phone calls to them, just to provide a friendly voice and a listening ear to someone who just doesn't have that person to talk to and needs to talk to somebody," said ElderSource CEO Linda Levin. Seniors older than 60 and living alone, as well as long-term care community residents, qualify for the program.