Earlier this year, when a Bella Sera Villas (Bella Sera Way) elderly resident showed signs of impairment and began walking the subdivision alone, alarmed residents took action.

Forming the “Neighbor-to-Neighbor Outreach Connection (network),” Jody Brewer, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Lorrie Klemons, RN, MSN & Senior Patient Advocate, marshaled their resources, drew from their professional careers and experiences and set out to blanket the 158-unit complex, in an effort to reach out and touch any/all of the mostly over-55+ residents to determine whether they were in need of a “check-in.”

“There’s already a lot of connecting going on,” said Brewer, “especially in the cul-de-sacs.” However, Brewer added, that with an aging population going in and out of the complex and some “elder-orphans” (phraseology for those who are alone by design, death of a spouse or living far from relatives/friends), the necessity to stay-in-touch becomes paramount.

To date, the duo have gathered approximately 30 recipients/residents (adoptees) and approximately 15 volunteers/residents (adopters) who are now participating in this program.

To blanket the complex and do an accounting of the needs/desires of those residents choosing to opt in/out of the program, Brewer and Klemons (residents and co-chairs) used a spreadsheet, created flyers (since many older people don’t use computers) and met with the volunteer-residents to discuss a good way to approach often wary neighbors.

“There needs to be a trust factor,” said Brewer.

“(The intention was to show) How to be a volunteer, set boundaries, (learn) the best way to approach the residents, how to provide additional information,” said Klemons. “Very low-level stuff, not major.”

According to the group’s brochure, the network has been created to address “social isolation, loneliness, no near-by family.” The intention is to reach out to others on a “semi-regular basis” to “make sure all is well.”

“This (network) was intended to create neighborliness and to make sure that no one was sitting home alone, unattended to,” said Brewer.

Their flyer states that they have “decided to re-energize the “Wellness Check” program of the past. The  volunteer duties are to phone, text, email or knock on the door of a fellow resident” to determine the (ongoing) “wellness” of that individual.

All participants are given a senior resource directory and a “Vial of Life” kit for emergency situations.

Plans for the future include more meetings, more reach-outs and the possibility of sharing this program with other subdivisions in the area.