Local nonprofit Verde Valley Caregivers Coalition offers several programming options to help area seniors, to whom it refers as “neighbors,” combat loneliness, and January is their most popular month for volunteers to sign up to help out their neighbors.

A 2020 study from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that nearly 43% of adults over the age of 60 reported feeling lonely. If you have elderly relatives, you may consider moving them into your home by making home adjustments like installing stairlifts and wheelchair ramps. You may use this Guide to Choosing Stairlifts that will help them move around the house more easily. If they stay with their loved ones, they may not feel lonely all the time, as for their security, features like stainless grab rails at their home can help a lot.

SedonaKind board member Jawn McKinley recently sponsored VVCC’s holiday social at the Camp Verde Library to provide holiday cheer and time with friends for 30 volunteers and clients.

“Attendees were treated to a range of activities, from crafting Christmas cards to singing carols, fostering a joyful atmosphere that resonated with the spirit of the season,” VVCC associate executive director Linda Clark said. “The generosity of SedonaKind extended beyond the festivities, as the organization sent four dedicated elves to decorate the venue. Participants were surprised with handmade scarves and matching hats. The event marked a heartfelt conclusion to the year, leaving a lasting impression on attendees and reinforcing the importance of community support. VVCC expresses gratitude to SedonaKind and all involved in making the holiday social outing a memorable one.”

For the last year and a half, VVCC’s care coordinator has been trying to arrange for a monthly social activity that will allow its clients to get out and meet new people.

“It usually involves lunch somewhere. The rest of the outing consists of traveling, like some of the most exciting ones were going up to Flagstaff and riding the chairlift up at SnowBowl, or they did a social outing to Lowell Observatory,” Clark said. “It’s just a really great way to engage with others. Then, also, we have volunteers that do friendly phone calling.”

VVCC also arranges free friendly phone calls, visits or email exchanges between volunteers and neighbors to provide regular social interaction.

“[Also] if Heather, who’s our care coordinator, meets with a neighbor, and if a neighbor expresses loneliness because he or she lost a pet, we’ll mention, ‘We have a robo-cat or dog, would you be interested in one?” Clark said. She brought out a robo-cat called Botty that purrs and shows its belly as an example.

“We don’t have any trouble getting new clients,” VVCC Associate Executive Director Linda Clark said. The nonprofit receives about a dozen new signups a week for medical transport and other services. “But where we really need to help is recruiting new volunteers.”

January is historically the time of the year that VVCC sees most new volunteers sign up, Clark said, adding that people should volunteer for the organization “because not only can they make a difference in the older adult, they’re helping make a difference in their own lives.”

VVCC has experienced about a 128% increase in demand for its transportation service, which takes Verde Valley residents to medical appointments in Prescott, Flagstaff and the Phoenix metropolitan area. At the end of 2023, executive director Kent Ellsworth estimated that VVCC volunteers drove 570,000 miles for the program, up from 250,000 miles five years ago. Clark said that VVCC also updated the number of older adults and adults with disabilities that it serves on an annual basis to 3,900 from the previous estimate of 2,400.

VVCC also recently held its annual gala on Nov. 19, which raised $231,000, $195,000 of which will be used for programing

Those interested in attending a VVCC social outing can call (928) 204-1238 ext. 8117. For more information about their services, visit vvcaregivers.org.