Eskaton Lifts the Spirits of Lonely Seniors One Phone Call at a Time

For more than two decades, Eskaton, a nonprofit organization serving seniors for 50 years, has reached out to homebound and isolated seniors via its Telephone Reassurance program. The program consists of volunteers who contact seniors to check up on them and provide an opportunity to socialize.

“Older people who are lonely are more likely to develop dementia than their more socially connected peers. In fact, studies show loneliness has physical effects that are among the most problematic in modern medicine,” said Linda Whiteside, Telephone Reassurance program manager with Eskaton. “Social connections formed between volunteers and the 700 Telephone Reassurance participants go a long way to reduce health risks and bring peace of mind to seniors and their family members.”

To date, Eskaton volunteers have made more than 1.6 million phone calls. Ben, a senior who benefits from the program, said, “I am so grateful that someone is calling me every day and checking on me. It lifts my spirits to know someone cares.” Juanita, another participant, added, “Telephone Reassurance is a lifesaver for me. I was very lonely, thank you so much!”

To sign up a senior that would benefit from the Eskaton Telephone Reassurance program, or for those interested in volunteering, call 916-334-1072 or 866-ESKATON. Eskaton has dozens of volunteer opportunities for people of all ages, from students to retirees.

“Come help us make a difference in the lives of older adults,” concluded Whiteside. “For some seniors, a call from one of our volunteers is the only conversation they’ll have in a day.”

About Eskaton

The Sacramento region is home to Eskaton, a nonprofit senior care provider offering innovative housing, healthcare, and social services. Every day thousands of older adults enjoy retirement at our independent senior living communities and receive the care they need through assisted living, skilled nursing, memory care, rehabilitation and in-home care programs. With five decades of experience and a national reputation for innovation, Eskaton is Transforming the Aging Experience. For more information, please call 1-866-ESKATON, or visit http://www.eskaton.org/.

About the NALA™

The NALA offers small and medium-sized businesses effective ways to reach customers through new media. As a single-agency source, the NALA helps businesses flourish in their local community. The NALA’s mission is to promote a business’ relevant and newsworthy events and achievements, both online and through traditional media. The information and content in this article are not in conjunction with the views of the NALA. For media inquiries, please call 805.650.6121, ext. 361.