The Friendly Neighbor Program of the Southwest Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross

According to the National Institutes of Health, depression in late life occurs because of numerous social and physical problems. The highest rate of depression occurs in homebound elderly or those in nursing homes. The rates of new cases of depression in nursing homes are striking: 13 percent of residents develop a new episode of major depression during the first year of entering a nursing home. Another 18 percent develop new depressive symptoms.

Statistics in southwest Florida showed an average of three percent of suicides committed each year were by the elderly. To address this critical issue of a large segment of their community, the Southwest Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross began a Friendly Neighbor program. This program is focused on isolation and depression among the elderly living in resident facilities and those that are homebound.

Two reasons cited by elderly who become depressed when leaving their home and moving to a facility are that they have lost their support group, such as neighbors, friends and family, and they no longer feel useful. The Friendly Neighbor program is designed with these reasons in mind.

The Friendly Neighbor program takes place in a resident facility that is divided into an Independent side and an Assisted Living side. Seniors living on the Independent side are trained as Red Cross volunteers. They are then matched with residents on the Assisted Living side based on needs and abilities. For instance, a woman who loves to read is assigned to a woman who is blind. Relationships are built among the residents where support and companionship are the foundation.

The change in all participants of the Friendly Neighbor program has been astounding. The volunteers feel useful because they are making a difference by visiting someone and bringing joy and companionship into their life. For the recipients, they are making new friends and feel the support of a group.