Matt visits Irene once a week through the Meals on Wheels Friendly Visitor program. They are pictured here at our first annual tea party for seniors and their Friendly Visitors.
Fashions of the 60’s. Artificial Intelligence. Classical music. Irene and Matt find a lot to talk about over a cup of tea.
Meet Irene: Irene faced unbearable loneliness after becoming a widow and struggling under isolating COVID-19 restrictions, which prompted her to join the Friendly Visitor program. An immigrant from Hungary, she didn’t have other family in the U.S. to connect with— making her even more vulnerable to loneliness. “It was getting to me being alone all the time,” Irene shares. The risks associated with loneliness in older adults include dementia, poor mental health, and premature death.
Meet Matt: Fellow Orange County resident Matt was seeking a volunteer experience that would provide him with the opportunity to make an impact in the life of an isolated senior. “I enjoy one-on-one interaction and recognize the tremendous benefit of socialization for older adults, so the visitor program felt like a great fit,” he shares.
Though over 50 years apart in age, Matt and Irene have become fast friends. They enjoy a variety of activities when they meet, including games, puzzles, or outings hosted by Meals on Wheels Orange County. “We always keep a running list of topics to discuss next time,” Matt says.
“Next time” can be a real gift to a senior living alone. Irene now has something to look forward to every week: the next cup of tea with her friend Matt.
Irene benefits from Meals on Wheels services because generous and kind hearted people like you recognize how meaningful it is to support older adults across Orange County.
“The Friendly Visitor program is the best thing that ever happened to me! Life is much more bearable now that I have been matched with this remarkable visitor.” -Irene
