“We talk quite a bit and we had him over for Memorial Day and he met some of our friends. My husband has asked him to come along when he walks the trails here in Harpswell. They both love the exercise. Very glad we met.”
So remarked a caller who takes part in Harpswell Aging at Home’s Neighbors Connecting program. This socialization effort that started in 2016 with seven callers and seven recipients has grown to 24 callers and 22 “callees,” delivering benefits to all involved.
It’s been shown that people who have strong social connections have a lower risk of health conditions like heart disease, stroke, dementia and depression. They’re also better able to cope with stress and the challenges of daily life. This doesn’t mean someone has to be out and about all the time, but it makes a difference to have a regular phone call with someone who cares.
Neighbors Connecting provides an easy way to combat social isolation. It is highly flexible and adapts to the needs of both parties. A simple phone call between two Harpswellians is all it takes. Some pairs talk weekly, others once a month. Some speak for a half-hour, others longer. Some recipients even get calls from more than one person because they love the conversations and rely on those interactions for almost all their socialization. New acquaintances become new friends and some even get together in person.
The efficacy of the program is clear. “One gentleman who got called had to move to Florida for health reasons and he really didn’t want to leave. His caller still calls him and keeps him updated on what’s happening here in Harpswell. He’s thrilled to hear from him,” said Gayle Hays, who oversees the program for Harpswell Aging at Home. “Another person moved to Massachusetts and the pair still talks regularly.” Other recipients have shared their experience with friends, and those people have joined the program too.
Callers are provided with guidance and a list of suggested topics to cover each month — if they get around to those. Conversations are free-flowing, with the recipient in the lead. Everything is open for discussion, except religion and politics. Callers share safety tips about topics such as fall prevention, which is Harpswell’s biggest safety issue. They also share reminders of upcoming events. The solar eclipse and the aurora borealis were often discussed this spring.
Callers sign a confidentiality agreement. If they are going to go into their callee’s home, they are vetted by our partner, People Plus. If they decide to meet in person in a public place, they can do that without further clearance.
As one caller said, “I started calling because I wanted to give back to my community, but actually, I’m getting so much more than I give.” Want to learn more? Want to be a caller or a recipient? Contact Gina at the Town Office, 207-833-5771 ext. 108, or email hah@hah.community and we’ll get you set up.
