More than 500 people age 55 and over attend the 42,000 square foot Arlington Heights Senior Center (AHSC) each day. Amenities of the center include an indoor walking trail, woodshop, café, computer lab, reading room, billiards, gift shop, a lending closet of durable medical equipment and the Arlington Athletic Club. Additionally, valuable health and wellness educational programs, tax assistance and other services are available. The AHSC’s unique organizational structure of eight senior service agencies located under one roof allows patrons to take advantage of a variety of programs and services to suit their needs and interests.
The Challenge: Social Isolation
Even with all that the center has to offer, some patrons may find it difficult to connect with people as they age, and feelings of loneliness and isolation can lead to serious health consequences. Seniors who feel lonely and isolated are more likely to report having poor physical and/or mental health, as reported in a study using data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. Northwest Community Healthcare’s Behavioral Health Navigator noted the pervasive problem of loneliness in her depression support group that she leads and brought forth the idea of the Buddy Bench as a way to combat social isolation. Other studies have found that feelings of loneliness are linked to poor cognitive performance and quicker cognitive decline. Moreover, social isolation has been reported to make seniors more vulnerable to elder abuse, depression, and even high blood pressure.
The Solution: Buddy Bench
As a respected community resource, the AHSC is duty bound to address social isolation so that it can help keep its patrons healthy both physically and mentally. With the grant funding from the Rotary Club of Arlington Heights, installing a Buddy Bench will afford the AHSC patrons the opportunity to connect with new people and feel like they’re part of a community. The Buddy Bench will be used as a vehicle for patrons to talk to each other more and become friendly stewards of the senior center. In short, the Buddy Bench will bridge loneliness, bring comfort, build community, foster friendships and advocate inclusion.
Buddy Bench Strategies
Buddy Bench Users (BBUs): The rule for BBUs is simple. If a BBU chooses to sit on the bench, he/she must say “yes” to the person who asks the BBU to walk, talk or join an activity. In the spirit of the meaning of the bench, no user should ever be selective about who joins them.
Buddy Bench Ambassadors (BBAs): The AHSC staff will select a handful of “regular” outgoing patrons to be BBAs. If no other patron approaches the BBU within three to five minutes, a BBA should approach the individual and sit down on the bench to talk. If the Buddy Bench has been occupied for five minutes and no one at all has approached the BBU, the AHSC front desk staff person will approach the individual and offer assistance.
Placement: The Buddy Bench will be placed in plain view in the lobby so that it’s seen from various angles for optimum usage and quick response.
Buddy Bench Promotional Activity Plan
It will be important to properly promote the new bench so that it’s used frequently and with positive results. Success stories should be shared as often as possible to promote continued usage by new individuals.