KAUKAUNA, Wis. — Nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It is not unusual for many to live alone, lose family or friends, or have a chronic illness.

Outagamie County’s ElderMatch Program is working to change that.

What You Need To Know

  • St. Paul Elder Services and Outagamie County Aging Unit is helping prevent senior loneliness with the ElderMatch Program 

  • ElderMatch connects those 60 and older living in Outagamie County with volunteers

  • Volunteers communicate with the elderly through visits, phone calls and letters, leading to a mutually beneficial relationship that increases the health and wellbeing of all involved

Jerry Roberts is a retired record-keeper of sorts. For 26 years, Roberts worked as a high school librarian. 

This retired “keeper of stories” now listens to tales of yesteryears as a volunteer with ElderMatch.

“Right now, I have a 102-year-old woman who was a WAC (Women’s Army Corps) during World War II, and that was a program for women who were involved during the war,” Roberts said.

ElderMatch volunteers form connections with seniors through phone calls and letters. Roberts said he loves in-home visits.

“It’s like visiting your grandpa, your grandma, and if you are fortunate to be able to socialize with them, which most people can, then you can socialize with another person. It’s just talking. It’s conversation, and you learn stuff,” Roberts said.

Many elders can’t or don’t want to leave the comfort of their home.

Becky Reichelt is the executive director at St. Paul Elder Services in Kaukauna. Reichelt said the ElderMatch program offers a compassionate twist to assisted living.

“Maybe it’s, you know, playing cards that they haven’t been able to play with somebody in the past. Maybe it’s reading their favorite book, but their vision is impaired now, and someone can help to read those stories to them. So the impact has been great with the participants in the program,” Reichelt said.

The program is a partnership between St. Paul Elder Services and Outagamie County. It’s for the county’s residents who are 60 and older.

Kali Erickson is the coordinator of the Outagamie Aging Unit.

“We know that there’s seniors in the community who are independent. Maybe they have a physical disability that’s causing them to be homebound. Maybe they don’t have friends and family in the area who are checking on them or able to make that connection. So that’s where our program can come in,” Erickson said.

Roberts said his time with seniors is like reading a book. With the turn of a page, he discovers something new about his senior clients.

“I feel good when I get done talking to them because you don’t know if you’re going to learn anything from them or not, but you usually do,” Roberts said.

To become a volunteer through ElderMatch, contact Josie at (920) 766-6020 ext.108 or josiet@stpaulelders.org. To become a participant in ElderMatch, contact Keri at (920) 766-6020 ext.189 or keris@stpaulelders.org. 

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