1. (NU) -Approximately 60 per-
cent of adults aged 65 and older
living alone or in care facilities
receive no regular visitors, ac-
cording to recent studies. Loneli-
ness is a challenge for older
adults, especially during the hol-
idays. Some may have no close
relatives; others may have fami-
ly members and friends too far
away to visit regularly.
A daily weekday phone
check-in service provides peace
of mind to family and friends of
older adults living alone. TheAl-
ways in Touch program, offered
free from Always Best Care Se-
nior Services, is designed main-
ly for seniors or disabled adults
who are homebound, isolated,
living alone or in need of daily
contact. It can be temporary for
someone recuperating from an ill-
ness or surgery, or it may be a
more permanent situation, ac-
cording to Always Best Care.
Here’s how it works: Repre-
sentatives of Always in Touch
call each day and allow the phone
to ring up to 15 times. If no one
answers, they will call again 15
minutes later. If there’s still no an-
swer, the representative will try
to reach the individual’s desig-
nated emergency contacts.
“This unique program allows
us to give back to our communi-
ties in a very meaningful way,”
says Michael Newman, Founder
and Chief Executive Officer ofAl-
ways Best Care.
Friends and family members
who do live near elderly relatives
living alone also can help address
holiday loneliness by assisting
with opening and reading holiday
cards, arranging for visits from a
representative of a local church,
decorating the home, or organiz-
ing a party at a senior facility.
Loneliness often leads to de-
pression if ignored. Signs of de-
pression in seniors include loss of
appetite, loss of interest in activ-
ities or socializing, and problems
sleeping. Regular phone calls
when family members are distant,
as well as when they live nearby,
are an important way to combat
depression by making older
adults feel loved and cared for.
Always in Touch is not a sub-
stitute for professional medical
advice or services, and the com-
pany reminds individuals and
caregivers to call a personal
physician or 911 immediately if
help is needed. To sign up for the
Always in Touch program, con-
tact a representative fromAlways
Best Care by calling 855-710-
2255. For more information
aboutAlways Best Care services,
visit www.always-in-touch.com.
Free Senior Safety Check Offers
Peace of Mind for Family and Friends
HEALTH
NewsUSA
A daily phone call
can go a long way.
NewsUSA