Building Bonds: Neighbor to Neighbor

Did you know 17% of people living in Butler County are 65 years of age or older and 37.5% live alone? Or that 12.1% of seniors in Butler County live in poverty and many receive assistance through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)? Due to these circumstance seniors are at greater risk of depression and feelings of isolation due to poverty and lack of social connectedness. The Butler County RSVP aims to help homebound or older adults and individuals with disabilities live independently.

As older adults become more physically frail, they’re less able to take care of themselves, stand up to bullying, or fight back if attacked. Mental or physical ailments can make them more trying companions for those who live with them. And they may not see or hear as well or think as clearly as they used to, leaving openings for unscrupulous people to take advantage of them.

Elder abuse tends to take place where the senior lives: where their abusers are often adult children, other family members such as grandchildren, or a spouse or partner. Elder abuse can also occur in institutional settings, especially long-term care facilities.

Elder abuse includes physical, emotional, or sexual harm inflicted upon an older adult, through financial exploitation, or neglect of their welfare by people who are directly responsible for their care. In the U.S. alone, more than half a million reports of elder abuse reach authorities every year, and millions more cases go unreported.

To combat this problem, RSVP volunteers intend to place daily phone calls to older adults and individuals with disabilities to help them remain independent in their home for as long as possible. They can expect a friendly phone call from a trained caring volunteer to check on their wellbeing. Family members have the reassurance that their loved ones are in regular contact with the volunteer. The program helps the individuals maintain their independence, reduce isolation and helps them feel safer in their homes and more connected to the community.

You can be a lifeline to a senior. A caring listener. A friendly connection. You can help save a life.