Read the article that appeared in the July 2022 edition of the Front Porch magazine:
At Mental Health America of Fredericksburg, we love helping our community get connected!
Each month I highlight one of our Senior Visitors Program volunteers and the senior they visit. Volunteers offer social support to older adults in our community who for various reasons may be feeling isolated. Social support is important for all of us! Having a good social network fosters resiliency and can improve our mental health as well as our physical health.
Connecting volunteers with seniors is fun and rewarding, but it is also a process. Considerations are made for geographic location, and everything from pet allergies to common interests. It can take time to find just the right connection that works for both the volunteer and the senior. When that “right connection” does happen, it is wonderful to see friendships develop and flourish. That was the case with volunteer, Dale Heck, and his new friend, Dee.
Prior to visiting with Dale, Dee tried visiting with two other volunteers, but they simply were not a good fit. Thankfully, her third volunteer, Dale, was just the friend Dee needed.
Dee says of Dale, “Dale has been a Godsend. He is just a wonderful person. I feel so comfortable with him; it is like we’ve always known each other. He’s like a brother and tells me I’m like a sister. He encourages me to get out and try things. We like to go out to eat. We also went to a concert and that was a blast! I am even walking better [because of his encouragement].”
Dale says of volunteering, “The first person that I visited wasn’t comfortable with me and that’s okay. If you are thinking about volunteering, take that first step, give it a try. Sometimes it is not a good fit, but don’t give up. There is somebody out there you can help. I feel like it is divine providence that I found the Senior Visitors Program.”
Dale says of his new friend, “Dee is like a sister I’ve always wanted. She brings me so much joy and I think I bring her joy, too. It feels like I’ve known her for 20 years. We like the same music, and we can just talk about anything.”
“Dee is very loving and kind. Though, she’s happy to be here close to her daughter, she’s a West Virginia girl who misses home. I’m trying to help her get comfortable here in Virginia. We recently went to an outdoor concert. Next, we are planning a scenic drive.”
Dee says of the Senior Visitors Program, “I thank the Senior Visitors Program for bringing us together. It has given me a new outlook.”
Dale, who also volunteers with SERVE in Stafford, goes on to say regarding his volunteer service, “Being retired is the neatest thing. I have time I can give [back to my community]. I’m having so much fun. I’m going to do this until I need someone to visit me!”
Laurie Black is the Senior Visitors Program Coordinator at Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.
If you would like to volunteer to visit a senior, or you know a senior who could benefit from having a weekly, friendly visit, call the Senior Visitors Program at (540) 371-2704 or visit our website at mhafred.org. The Senior Visitors Program is a free community service program of Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.