A Coming of Age Member Speaks Out

Older Delawareans Are an Important Demographic 

Over the last year or two I’ve noticed that the News Journal and other local media are increasingly focusing more attention on older Delawareans and the many varied circumstances in which they find themselves. This attention is indeed warranted, since the older adult population is the fastest growing one in Delaware, and the First State is also projected to see this growth continue for quite some time. 

Although many older adults are able to remain active and engaged well into their 80’s and beyond these days, many of the oldest old are at a much greater risk of isolation and loneliness. As they get older, their spouses, close relatives and friends die, and their mobility often becomes more limited due to the increased prevalence of certain diseases and poorer vision as we age. As a result they are less able to be involved in their communities or take advantage of social opportunities. And this is when they can become particularly vulnerable to the kind of exploitation noted in some News Journal articles earlier this summer. One discussed the case of an elderly gentleman in need of in home care who ended up being financially exploited by a caregiver he thought he could trust. Another highlighted police warnings about phone scammers trying to get money from grandparents by convincing them that their grandchildren were in trouble and needed the money. Working in elder services at Children & Families First (CFF), I can assure you that unfortunately these kinds of incidents happen way too often to isolated elders, with no one to look out for and advise them.  

But your article, “Audacity of Baby Boomers” provided the perfect counterbalance to these grim scenarios. In it they highlighted the eagerness of the Boomer generation to remain connected and contributed to their communities well into their retirement years. The article also pointed out that these folks have a wealth of experience and many well-honed skills that previous retiree generations did not. I couldn’t help but think – wouldn’t it be great if we could connect some of these dedicated, energetic boomers with some of our less fortunate elders to provide them with companionship, support, encouragement and advocacy.  

Well that’s exactly what CFF, a long-time Delaware nonprofit, is trying to do with its ElderBuddy Program. This program, supported through a partnership between CFF and Astra Zeneca, promotes and supports ongoing one-to-one friendships between interested volunteers and older adults yearning for additional companionship and conversation. Ongoing relationships like this help connect isolated elders to the larger community and provide them with a helping hand or a confidant when needed. Recently one of our volunteers worked tirelessly to get her ElderBuddy transferred from a facility where her care situation was certainly neglectful, maybe criminal, and didn’t give up until she knew her friend was safe and happy again. 

Although companionship and social engagement are the primary goals of the current program, we are in the process of expanding the reach of the program to include volunteers looking for a deeper commitment, who will be trained and supported in acting as advocates or champions for lonely or frail elders. Our new Elder Advocate Program will work alongside our ElderBuddy Program to accommodate the varying interest levels of boomer retirees and the varying needs of our oldest Delawareans. We discovered not so long ago that It Takes a Village to raise a child, and that concept can also work for supporting our elders. If you would like to find out more about these programs, or would like to become actively involved, please contact Kathy Hyde, Elder Care Program Manager, Children & Families First at 302-479-1696 or kathy.hyde@cffde.org.