Phones are ringing and volunteers are still making calls at Eskaton’s Telephone Reassurance call center. The program has been supporting the independence of older adults living alone in the greater Sacramento Region for over 25 years. Calls provide participants with comfort and connection amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has restricted the social contact of older adults throughout the Sacramento Region.

Many community-based programs serving older adults are indefinitely closed or restricted due to the COVID-19 crisis but the Telephone Reassurance Program has remained open due to the steadfast support of home-based volunteers, Sacramento State Gerontology students and dedicated program team members.

Trained volunteers, students and staff are making daily calls to over 500 program participants. The call center team has spread out and are leveraging technology in order to practice social distancing. Volunteers are either making calls from home or in isolated offices through Eskaton. Program Manager, Christie Hebditch, anticipates program demand will only increase in the coming weeks and months but she is confident that program will continue to be able to meet this growing challenge.

If you or someone you know would benefit from a daily phone call or would like to join the Telephone Reassurance Program, please visit: https://www.eskaton.org/telephone-reassurance.