Friendly Connections Program Expands to Serve Growing Aging Population
As more and more Baby Boomers reach retirement age, the face of the country's aging population is expected to undergo a major metamorphosis. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, today's older adults are leading more active lifestyles due to the fact retiring Boomers generally make more time for leisure, have higher disposable incomes and are more concerned with continuing education and health.
To accommodate the changing needs of aging adults, Family Centers' Friendly Connections program recently expanded the menu of services it offers Fairfield County residents over the age of 50.
"Over the past 15 years, the outreach services provided through Friendly Connections has helped hundreds of homebound seniors combat isolation and depression by keeping them connected to the community," said Friendly Connections Manager Rebecca Lippel. "While this population remains a priority for us, we felt a need to enhance our offerings to appeal to the growing number of people nearing retirement."
Chief among the program's changes is the added depth to its popular teleconference courses. Offered for free and facilitated by volunteers, Friendly Connections' education and support courses allow older adults to participate in lively discussions on a variety of topics via the telephone. New courses for 2010 include foreign language tutorials, travel lectures and health topics. A number of celebrity facilitators including actor Gene Wilder and WTNH-TV morning anchor Kristen Cusato are also scheduled to lead Friendly Connections classes.
In addition to its teleconference courses, Friendly Connections will increase the home visiting service offered to local seniors and disabled adults through its Friendly Visitors component. Check-in companionship phone calls will continue to be placed through the program's Friendly Callers service.
The expansion of the Friendly Connections program also opens the door for more volunteer opportunities. As a program that relies heavily on the expertise of volunteers, Friendly Connections is seeking additional help to ensure the growing needs of its clients are met. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to facilitate a teleconference course, make weekly visits or calls to a local senior or assist in administrative tasks. For information contact Rebecca Lippel at 203-629-2822.
A program of Family Centers, Friendly Connections offers comprehensive support and wellness services to the 50-plus population living in Fairfield County. Its Friendly Callers component connects isolated adults with community volunteers, who make weekly phone calls and provide much-needed support and companionship. Meanwhile, the Friendly Visitors program matches those who are homebound with a volunteer who visits their home on a weekly basis. Friendly Visitors is operated in partnership with the Greenwich Department of Social Services.
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