It’s easy to find someone to talk to when you come from a large family, all of which are still living and constantly have time to call. But what do you do when your relatives pass away, your friends develop serious illnesses, and your own children are so busy with their own lives that they simply do not have enough time to check up on you everyday?
For senior citizens living in Albany County, the answer is as simple as asking for a volunteer to call.
According to Christine Cary, director of the Town of Colonie Senior Resources Department, the Telephone Reassurance program is a free service which is run through the American Red Cross. We make referrals for the program for seniors in the town that are local and isolated, said Cary, `It’s just a safety check.`
Cary could not disclose any of the names of the participants in the program, however, she did say that sometimes family members call and recommend their loves ones for the program.
After the recommendation is made, according to Cary, the Red Cross gets involved with contacting the senior and matching them up with a volunteer who contacts the senior by phone.
`You don’t have to be called everyday,` said Edie Sennet, Coordinator of the Albany County Telephone Reassurance Company for the Red Cross, `They tell them how many times we can call them. We can call them seven days a week if they want.`
Sennett said the phone calls can last as long as the senior feels comfortable with, and is basically a `friendly chat.` The seniors can also decide how many times per week, and at what time of day they are called.
`We sent out a survey to [the seniors] and all of the folks are very happy with [the program]. Anytime they want to stop having the calls they can,` said Sennett.
Since 2001, the program has seen 14 people become part of Telephone Reassurance in Albany County, some of which are Colonie residents.
But without funding by the Albany County Department for Aging, the Telephone Reassurance program might not be possible.
According to Maureen Murphy, Albany County Department for Aging communications specialist, the program costs about $14,400 to fund per year, which includes some funding by the federal government. The federal funding comes from The Supportive Services Grant.
Murphy praised the program for providing, `In home contact and support services for our seniors living in isolation.`
On the caller’s side, who were also confidential according to Sennett, the experience can be rewarding as individuals are volunteering their time to reach out, most of the time, to their peers.
`Most of the volunteers are retired also,` said Sennett.
There is no maximum age to receive the calls, however you must be at least 60 years old, according to Sennett. She also said that the program prefers to have callers of a minimum age of 18 so that the content of the calls will be appropriate for the seniors.
Overall, the program serves two purposes, said Sennett. It serves to check up on seniors who may need someone to make sure everything is going well in their home and with their health and it provides a socialization to them which they may have lost when their closest companions have passed away or moved on.
However, the program is strictly for those individuals who are housebound. According to Sennett, by limiting the calls to only housebound seniors, the program is able to reach out to individuals who don’t have the socialization opportunities that other seniors, who live in retirement villages have.
Sennett said the program would enjoy having more participants, both on the calling and receiving end.
Anyone interested in participating can contact either the Red Cross at 458-811 ext. 3006, Albany County Department for Aging at 447-7177 or Town of Colonie Senior Resource Center at 459-5051.“