Friendly Visiting Clients

Finding Community Through Companionship: Linda’s Journey 

Linda is a Friendly Visiting client at SCHC. She has lived in her current building for 18 years, where she was heavily involved in her community, participating in elections and communal events. Community involvement has always been important to Linda as it allowed her to meet different people and build meaningful connections and relationships. 

Over years, Linda noticed a growing sense of isolation. Referred to SCHC by a caseworker, she turned to the Friendly Visiting Program at SCHC, hoping it would provide the companionship she seeked. She was matched with a volunteer, and that connection brought her satisfaction. Linda’s volunteer engaged with her in friendly conversations about anything and everything, and Linda always looked forward to hearing from her. 

As a client, Linda deeply values the care and commitment of volunteers. She and her volunteer have maintained this meaningful relationship for nearly 10 years. During these moments, Linda felt reconnected with the community despite living alone. The companionship her volunteer provides helps her feel less lonely and more engaged in her community. 

Linda expresses a desire for more in-person visits from volunteers. Unfortunately, there are currently not enough volunteers available to meet this need.   

Community care and involvement continue to be very important to Linda. Through the Friendly Visiting Program, she feels included in the community as a member takes an hour of their day to spend time with her. These friendly conversations and interactions help Linda feel connected again, reducing her sense of loneliness and reinforcing her place in the community. 

Finding Strength and Connection: Michele Dickson’s Journey 

Michele Dickson, a 59-year-old artist and writer, has spent much of her life bedridden due to illness, battling CPTSD, anxiety, and depression. Despite her physical limitations, Michele remains passionate about her creative work. She has had several pieces published, including poetry and art, and dreams of using her creativity to raise awareness about domestic abuse. 

For Michele, wellness is about more than just physical health; it’s about self-worth, independence, and finding joy in life. She believes, “Just because you’re stuck in a bed, doesn’t mean you can’t have a life. Everybody deserves a life.” Wellness also means accepting and loving the darker parts of herself, setting healthy boundaries, and pursuing meaningful goals. 

Michele’s connection to her community is small but meaningful. She relies on her mother, her care team, and her PSWs for support, and is grateful for the love and respect they provide. After facing years of financial struggles and feeling disconnected from society, Michele was referred to SCHC’s Friendly Visiting Program. Her volunteer became a trusted companion, and their relationship has had a profound impact on Michele. Through their conversations, Michele feels heard, validated, and more confident. Her volunteer not only listens attentively but also shares her own stories, creating a mutual bond of understanding. Michele now feels comfortable sharing her creative work, including her art and writing, with her volunteer, who offers her unwavering support. Michele states that she couldn’t have asked for a better friend! 

Since joining the Friendly Visiting Program, Michele has become more outgoing, setting new goals and dreams she never had before. She describes herself as “industrious, persistent, and resilient,” and says she now believes that she can achieve whatever she sets her mind to. Michele values dignity above all in her care, emphasizing that she wants to be treated as an equal and not “less than” due to her disabilities. She feels that the Friendly Visiting Program respects her individuality and needs, and she wishes that other support services would do the same, particularly in domestic abuse programs. 

Her story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of hardship, it’s possible to find support, connection, and purpose. Michele’s experience with the Friendly Visiting Program has given her not only a renewed sense of hope and belonging but also the confidence to keep dreaming and living her life on her own terms. 

Finding Connection: Ms. D’Souza’s Journey 

Ms. D’Souza moved to Scarborough 36 years ago with her husband, and over the years, her neighborhood became a place of support. When she passed out in her front yard, a neighbor rushed to help, taking her to the hospital. Now living alone, she prioritizes her health and independence, appreciating the community around her that helps her maintain her freedom. 

Referred by her doctor to the Friendly Visiting Program, she initially felt unsure about welcoming a stranger into her life. However, she quickly warmed to the program, finding the volunteers kind and their conversations a source of comfort. These interactions help her feel less isolated and brighten her days, while still allowing her to remain independent. 

Ms. D’Souza values the support she receives through Friendly Visiting, noting that it helps her feel connected and cared for. She hopes for more in-person visits, as seeing someone face-to-face makes the conversations more meaningful. Evening visits would also bring comfort, as the loneliness of nighttime can be particularly difficult. The program has truly made a positive impact, offering her the companionship she needs to feel less lonely and more supported.