NEED
“Nationally, six out of ten residents in nursing homes never have a visitor” - Seattle Times 5/01
Many of the 60,000 elderly and disabled persons living in a ‘Home’ in the Puget Sound area never have a personal visitor. Living away from family and friends, they feel isolated and lonely, which leads to further physical and mental deterioration. Many are discouraged and depressed and have lost their will to live. Social programs within the Homes do not fully meet the need of the residents on this deeply personal level. Visits by a caring friend add a dimension which enriches and makes their lives more meaningful.
People are living longer and the number of persons living in Homes increases annually. The need for volunteer friends for these persons is also increasing. Daily recruitment and continual program development is required to keep pace with this need. Currently Friend to Friend volunteers are regularly visiting lonely residents in 300+ Homes throughout the Puget Sound area. Many more friends are needed.