Case Studies

Finding Friends

Just the Guys

“I met my friend Patrick about a year ago through the Caring Connections Friendly Visitor program. We have become good friends. We enjoy talking about movies, automobiles and outdoor activities like fishing. Patrick is a smart, caring and good-natured friend from whom I have learned much. We hang out together and enjoy each other’s company. Our visits made me focus on issues other than my health problems. In the beginning I was reassured that the visitors were screened before we met”.

Someone to Talk To

Alice is a married woman with grown children and grandchildren. She was very ill and depressed and needed someone to talk to and to listen to her while recovering from her illness. She believes that sometimes someone outside of the family can become a very important support mechanism. This was the case with her Caring Connections visitor. Alice is now well and on the road to recovery and she and her volunteer have developed a great friendship.

Music for the Soul

Peter is a 91-year-old lady that has been confined to her bed for 8 years. The only time she leaves her bed is to go to the hospital or the doctor. At times her health is very bad but, when she is up to it, she and her visitor talk about movies and listen to popular music from years ago, such as Judy Garland, Rosemary Clooney, Frank Sinatra, etc. Her father was a musician and worked for Cecil B. DeMille so she has many stories to share.

Peter’s Friendly Visitor Volunteer, George, commented that “The CCFV program and my visits with Peter have helped her spirits and I feel I am making a difference in her life. She just loves to listen to music. She says it is good for the soul”.

George brought music back into Peter’s life. Before he started visiting her, she only had a TV in her bedroom that played continuously. Now they listen to many old songs that bring back a flood of good memories.

Between Friends

“When I became a Friendly Visitor, I chose a married couple to visit. In reading their bio, I saw that the husband was interested in remote control airplanes. My husband had been in a club years ago, so I asked if he would like to visit with me to break the ice on my first visit. Our friend was thrilled to show my husband his planes. He had a garage full of equipment and enjoyed talking about his hobby.

He hadn’t been able to fly lately because he was the caretaker for his wife. My husband is not able to visit every time I go, however, we try to go together in the evening once in a while. Our friend really seems to enjoy himself more when we visit together. His wife was more at ease, also, as she would get quite agitated when I would visit by myself.

He has recently had to place his wife in a facility, so now my husband and I visit with him for an early dinner. I call often while he is adjusting to living alone and every time I call, he will ask, ‘How’s your husband?’”