Posted on 05/05/2023 10:05:19 AM PDT by simpson96
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Eighty-three-year-old Louise has been receiving a phone call around the same time every morning for 20 years.
"If something happened to me that night, the next morning, someone would be calling again," Louise, who lives in Palm Beach County, told WPBF 25 News.
She signed up for free 211 Sunshine Daily calls, which check in on the well-being of seniors and isolated caregivers.
"I have made friends, but it’s not been easy. And I rely on 211 immensely," she said.
She said she wanted to receive these daily calls to make sure that her Dobermanns were taken care of no matter what.
"The thought of me, something happening to me, and them being alone in the house was really, I had to do something," she said.
Throughout the years, the Sunshine Daily calls have become more than just a voice.
"They would talk long enough so that you know that you were more than just a name," Louise said. "There are days that that’s the only person I talk to all day."
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released an advisory this week on the epidemic of loneliness and isolation. He said a lack of social contact can lead to an increased risk of heart disease by 29%, increased risk of stroke by 32%, increased risk of dementia by 50%, and increased risk of premature death by more than 60%.
"We know there are seniors out in the community who really don’t have anyone looking after them. They’re living alone, isolated," Patrice Schroeder of 211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast told WPBF 25 News.
"We are also including isolated caregivers in this program. So, if you know somebody that’s a family caregiver, an adult that’s caregiving for another adult family member, they can also sign up for this call," she added.
Beats answering the phone that many times from a telemarketer.........
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