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More than 50 percent of nursing home residents never have visitors. As a result, the remaining years of many of our community's nursing home residents are spent in loneliness and isolation. The Senior Source is working to improve the lives of those residents through its Friendly Visitor Program. Last year more than 2,000 Friendly Visitor Volunteers visited Dallas area nursing home residents. Through visitations that fit their schedule, Friendly Visitor Volunteers can make a nursing home resident feel wanted again.


How Friendly Visitors improve the lives of residents

Friendly Visitors are placed in area nursing homes to spend time with isolated residents or assist with group activities.

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Who can be a Friendly Visitor

This program is great for groups or individuals of all ages. Volunteers under the age of 15 require adult supervision.  Friendly Visitors have included

  • Individuals 
  • Corporate groups - many business groups become Friendly Visitors as a team building project
  • Service organizations 
  • Youth groups, community projects for schools, scout groups, etc.

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Ways to volunteer

There are a variety of ways to volunteer as a Friendly Visitor. Examples of past activities are:

Groups

  • "Adopt" a long-term care facility
  • Give a holiday party
  • Sponsor an event

Individuals

  • "Adopt" one resident
  • Visit all rooms 
  • Help with activities such as bingo or arts and crafts
  • Take your pet to visit residents (must have permission from the facility)

We are always open to new ideas for volunteer activities.

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How to become a Friendly Visitor

A volunteer coordinator will match you or your group with nursing home residents. We ensure that the nursing home's location will be geographically convenient. Please click here for the Friendly Visitor volunteer form. Instructions are at the bottom of the form.

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Orientation that we provide Friendly Visitors

We provide orientation at the volunteer's assigned nursing home and ongoing support to ensure a successful experience for both volunteers and nursing home residents.

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Become a Friendly Visitor

Contact our office by telephone at 214.823.5700 or email.

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Understanding the aging process

Aging simulation programs are provided at no charge to business and community groups to assist their members in understanding the aging process. Times are based on staff availability. Contact the Nursing Home Ombudsman Director at 214.823.5700 or email to find out more.

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Number of people served in 2007

In 2007, 759 new Friendly Visitors made 2,226 contacts with nursing home and assisted living facility residents.

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Major funders of this program ($5000+)

  • Dallas Area Agency of Aging and the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services
  • Junior League of Dallas, Inc.
  • The Meadows Foundation
  • Spirit of Generations Awards Luncheon
  • United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Inc.

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For more information

Please contact the Nursing Home Ombudsman Director at 214.823.5700 or email

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1215 Skiles Street, Dallas, Texas 75204 . (p) 214.823.5700 . (f) 214.826.2441
Info@TheSeniorSource.org

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