Elder Participation Guidelines

Criteria for participating elder:

• Must be interested in having a friendly visitor

• Must live alone

• Age 60+

• Still live independently (apartment or home)

• Self-report feeling lonely or socially isolated

• Not be bed-ridden or battling terminal Illness

• Not be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or Dementia

#1 Question to ask a potential elder participant:  "Would you like a friendly visitor"?

Tips- Here is a good “pitch” for the shy:

"We have volunteers who are looking to enhance their own lives by befriending someone like you!  They have been screened by us & they are very nice people."  Try to point out how this friendship is reciprocal & how the older adult could be doing someone else some good too.

Who are we?

• ElderFriends is a group of community volunteers

• We are not religiously affiliated

• We are a non-profit, outreach program of Family Lifeline 

• There is NO fee for our friendship

• We are NOT a chore or errand program