Neighbors Helping Seniors: How Takoma Park Is Fighting Loneliness

TAKOMA PARK, MD — Health experts say hunkering down at home and adhering to other social distancing rules will help "flatten the curve" during the new coronavirus pandemic. But it doesn't come without a cost.

Avoiding infection can lead to social isolation. And it's a problem that experts say can affect anyone — especially the senior population, which is most vulnerable to COVID-19.

The City of Takoma Park is hoping to bridge that disconnect through a new initiative called the Phone A Neighbor Program.

Created by the city's recreation department, Phone A Neighbor offers seniors a way to connect with other Takoma Park residents during the public health crisis.

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"We developed this so we can keep in touch with seniors and anyone who is living alone," Paula Lisowski, the seniors program manager for the recreation department, told Patch. "We want to make sure they are not living in social isolation and that they can connect with a volunteer who could check up on them."

Here's how it works: a volunteer will be assigned a senior to check in with on a regular basis. The pair can schedule as many phone calls as they want and talk about whatever comes to mind. There are no specific guidelines.

The goal is to connect with seniors and to offer them a sense of comfort during these uncertain times, Lisowski said.

"This is hard on everybody, but this is especially hard on people who live alone," she said.

More than 20 people have signed up to volunteer for the program.

"For a small community it's pretty good," Lisowski said about the city, which has a population of about 17,000. "We have a really good community of people who are concerned about others and people who are willing to help their neighbor."

Those who are interested in participating in this program should call Lisowski at 240-687-4132 or email Javonte McDonald at JavonteM@takomaparkmd.gov.

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