Aging Study To Determine If Senior Volunteers Helping Fellow Seniors Has Benefits

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — A multi-state study measuring effectiveness of senior volunteers helping other seniors has recently been launched in Hillsborough County, a county news release said.

Several residents age 60 and older are involved in the "Do More, Feel Better" initiative as participants and as lay coaches who assess a person's needs and help them plan appropriate physical, social or recreational activities, Hillsborough County Aging Services staff said.

Emotional-therapeutic pursuits include gardening, walking, calling friends and Aging Services programs. A 75-year-old Brandon woman, Fontaine Fosco, has participated in the activities since October at the Brandon Senior Center. Fontaine volunteers as a "Do More, Feel Better" coach, and has worked with one participant who lived with cancer, and another person who felt lonely and wanted to leave Florida.

"After spending time with Fontaine, both are doing well," the Hillsborough County website reported. "The first person began participating in Aging Services' virtual calls and programs, and took a trip. The second person now goes to church, joined a craft class, and decided to stay in the area."

Fontaine said participants get depressed and don't know what to do with themselves, and then she encourages them to get involved in healthy, social activities.

What Does The Study Include

It's a five-year study taking place in communities around the University of South Florida, University of Washington and Cornell University.

USF researchers hope to work with about 120 participants and a dozen coaches from Aging Services. The participants were culled from seniors who indicated they were feeling down or sad. Aging Services works closely with all these seniors, including those who do not meet criteria for the study. That's in addition to weekly calls to all seniors involved with Aging Services while the County's senior centers are closed during the global pandemic, the Aging Services agency said.

The research centers on finding out whether volunteer senior coaches can be as effective as professionals.

The National institute of Mental Health is funding the multi-state study, with the hope of eventually lifting the spirits of seniors everywhere through positive activities. The need for such assistance is great, and enhanced by the pandemic which limits interpersonal relations.