Volunteers help nursing home residents feel less isolated
Residents of social care centers often wish for more contact with society, and volunteers are helping meet that need through conversations and time spent together. The topic was discussed on Latvian Radio by a representative of the "Ascendum" association and a mentor for the "Conversations with Seniors" project.
People living in social care centers frequently wish for a closer connection to the outside world than their daily institutional life allows. Volunteer involvement — through regular conversations and simply spending time together — can help address this need.
The topic was discussed on the Latvian Radio program "Kā labāk dzīvot" ("How to Live Better") by Antonija Skopa, chairwoman of the board of the "Ascendum" association, and Laura Lapiņa, a volunteer mentor for the project "Conversations with Seniors" ("Sarunas ar senioriem").
A benefit for both sides
Both participants emphasized that this kind of volunteer involvement benefits not only the older residents of care centers but also the volunteers themselves. Interacting with seniors helps younger people better understand the aging process and offers a chance to pause and view life at a calmer pace.
The "Conversations with Seniors" project is specifically aimed at building a bridge between society and care home residents, who often lack contact with people from outside the institution. The volunteer work in this field is described as a process that brings peace of mind and a fresh perspective to both those who offer support and those who receive it.
