Loneliness squads spread cheer to older Tucsonans

Loneliness squads are doing what they can to help older adults feel loved and included.

IMPACTS OF ISOLATION DURINGTHE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THISMORNING, NINE ON YOUR SIDE'SVERONICA ACOSTA EXPLAINS HOW AGROUP OF PEOPLE ARE KEEPINGSPIRITS UP.FOR MONTHS NOW MANY OLDERADULTS HAVE STAYED INSIDE OFTHEIR HOMES AS MUCH ASPOSSIBLE TO STAY SAFE FROMCOVID-19 MAKING THAT DECISIONHAS COME WITH THE FEELING OFISOLATION - AND NOW A GROUP OFPEOPLE ARE TRYING TO RID OLDERADULTS OF THAT FEELING NAT0:51-0:56 - "YOU NOW MAKINGSURE THEY HAVE COMPANIONSHIP,YOU KNOW HAVE THEIR NEEDSTAKEN CARE OF." COVIDLONELINESS SQUADS WERE CREATEDBY SYNERGY HOMECARE - WHICH ISAN IN-HOME CARE FRANCHISE0:28-0:39 - "COVID LONELINESSSQUADS ARE CAREGIVERS THAT ARETRAINED TO HELP PEOPLEPARTICULARLY SENIORS WHO ARESTRUGGLING WITH LONELINESSBECAUSE OF THE COVIDPANDEMIC." CAREGIVERS AREN'TONLY TASKED WITH KEEPINGSPIRITS UP AND KEEPING COMPANY- BUT ALSO HELPING WITH DAILYACTIVITIES OLDER ADULTS MAYNOT BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH ONTHEIR OWN NAT 1:18-1:22 -"THEY ALSO CAN HELP SENIORSWITH RUNNING ERRANDS." KEEPINGSAFE IN THESE LONELINESSSQUADS IS (TOP PRIORITY -CAREGIVERS MUST GO THROUGHEXTENSIVE PRECAUTIONS TO MAKESURE THEY DON'T ENDANGER ANOLDER ADULT 3:11-3:19 - "THEYHAVE TO CONFIRM THAT THEYDON'T HAVE A TEMPERATURE ANDTHAT THEY HAVEN'T COME INCONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO'SCOVID POSITIVE AND THEY DON'THAVE ANY SYMPTOMS." (LL TAG)IF YOU KNOW AN OLDER ADULT WHOCOULD BENEFIT FROM THESELONELINESS SQUADS WE HAVE MOREINFORMATION ON HOW THEY CANSIGN UP ON OUR WEBSITE, KGUNNINE DOT COM VERONICA ACOSTAKGUN NINE ON YOUR SIDE