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Friendly Visiting

About this Program

Our Friendly Visiting program is a community initiative committed to reducing social isolation amongst seniors aged 65+.

Activities Permitted: Through several activities, including friendly conversation, a friend to watch movies or television with, someone to play board games with, engage in arts and crafts with or someone to listen to music with, we alleviate feelings of loneliness and enhance their overall quality of life. 

Activities Not Permitted: Activities such as cooking, food preparation, cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry and anything else related to personal care are not permitted in our Friendly Visiting Services. We also do not take clients outside of their homes. 

Please note that due to a chronic shortage of volunteers, we have had to prioritize matching volunteers with seniors living alone in their home, and not in any kind of group or institutional setting. It is our hope in the future to be able to expand our program to include group living situations, because we know that loneliness and isolation are issues for seniors no matter their living situation and we are working to address this issue.

Delivery Options

We connect volunteers in person or by telephone with Scarborough community members in need of companionship. 

Wait Time

Our current wait time is up to 1 year for in-person services, and up to 4-6 weeks for telephone services.   

Eligibility

If you are 65 and live in the area bordered by the following:

  • North – Steeles Avenue East,
  • East – Scarborough-Pickering Townline,
  • South – Lake Ontario, and
  • West – Victoria Park.

Telephone Visit Eligibility:

  • Age 65+
  • No hearing impairments.
  • Experiencing loneliness.
  • Access to a telephone. 
  • No severe cognitive impairments.

In Person Visits

  • Age 65+
  • Experiencing Loneliness.
  • Access to a telephone. 
  • No severe cognitive impairments.

Contact Us

Program Information:

Email:

FriendlyVisiting@schcontario.ca

(416)-642-9445 ext.4418

Referral Form

Locations

Based on client location

Resources

Friendly Visiting Volunteer Application Form