New Senior Support Network Program

Advocates, Inc., BayPath Elder Services, Inc., and The Sherborn Council on Aging are pleased to announce a recent grant award from Crossroads Community Foundation. The funding will help begin the new “Senior Support Network Program”. Senior volunteers will receive training and clinical supervision in order to provide in-home visits to socially isolated elders. These senior volunteers will provide empathy, life experiences, positive modeling, and on-going support to these socially isolated elders.  Elders will be referred to the program from churches, senior centers, visiting nurse associations, and a variety of other agencies and contacts.

Social isolation for home-bound elders can be a significant problem.  Often, home-bound elders go days without any personal contact. Elders living alone may experience difficulty with aging. Difficulties may include isolation, loneliness, grief, sadness, and despair.  Elders may feel particularly vulnerable after the loss of friends or family members, independence, social contacts, or pets.