Fostering Friendships
The JFS Friendly Visitor program is about creating opportunities for older adults to have a companion, fostering relationships, and having fun! For Sue, one of our wonderful Boulder Friendly Visitor volunteers, it’s really about the connections she feels fortunate to make within her community.
Sue, an older adult response and recovery specialist for Jefferson County Public Health, enjoys bird watching, grooming horses, reading, writing, watching older sitcoms, and dogs—and since 2019, being a JFS Friendly Visitor. Currently, two older adults enjoy Sue’s time—Aaron, and Nicole, whose Friendly Visitor is out of town.
“I grew up with great-grandparents, spending time around older adults,” shared Sue. “I have always enjoyed the wisdom and experiences of older adults. I enjoy the connection, the sense of history, and the stories. I am especially passionate about helping our veterans.”
Sue was matched with Aaron, a Holocaust survivor, and sees him once a week. The two are both writers and share wonderful in-depth conversations about life. “I believe in Tikkun Olam and live my life by the meaning ‘repair the world’. When I hear stories such as Aaron’s and can connect with an older adult on a deeper level, it goes both ways and is good for the older adult and me.”
While her time with Nicole is temporary, the two enjoy similar musical tastes and meals out. Also, Nicole went to school for Linguistics and French, and Sue’s mother is a retired speech pathologist, which makes for interesting conversations, Sue said.
Sue’s favorite parts of being a Friendly Visitor are the connection she makes and the joy she feels about doing something meaningful—for both her and the clients she spends time with.
Seymour was an older adult Sue visited from 2019 to 2020, and he flew 35 missions as a tail gunner in World War II. He had significant dementia but loved having Sue push him in his wheelchair down a path near his assisted living facility. “Seymour started to remember specific prayers from his upbringing (Jewish), and we would sing them together as we would roll along,” said Sue. “I brought him a tallit, which he loved to wrap himself in. It seemed when we sang or listened to Jewish music, Seymour would remember a little about his youth. One time, he looked up as I pointed out skydivers. I asked if he had ever skydived, and he remembered that he had. Seymour’s daughter once shared, ‘My dad can’t remember who you are, but he loves when you visit.’”
When Seymour passed in 2020, Sue said the Shema at a small memorial for him.
The meaningful connections with older adults like Seymour, Aaron, and Nicole bring Sue such great pleasure. “Being a Friendly Visitor is incredibly rewarding,” said Sue. “At a time in our country when there is so much violence, hate, etc., it is a joy and an honor to be in the company of an older adult. There is a connection that is so important. It is a wonderful way to learn about different experiences, become a really good listener, and share a sense of humor. For me, it has only been joyful and inspiring because I am listening to others.”
Visit jewishfamilyservice.org/volunteer/volunteer-friendly-visitor-boulder to learn more about the JFS Friendly Visitor program.