Maine Public reports on UMaine Center on Aging Senior Companion Program
Maine Public published a report about the UMaine Center on Aging Senior Companion Program, which matches volunteers with older individuals who are isolated and living in rural areas. Loneliness is considered by some health experts to be a serious public health issue, Maine Public reported. This program works to address the issue through volunteers who pay weekly visits to homebound or isolated seniors, who often lack the financial or physical means to leave their homes to connect with others, and may also be without friends or family in the area to keep them company. The program serves about 600 people across the state, with a waitlist of more than 300, and is always looking for more volunteers, according to the report. NPR carried the report.