A simple phone call can do more than you might imagine. Just ask the folks at Pasco County’s Mobile Integrated Health program. Their community paramedics work tirelessly to help seniors stay safe and independent, and they’ve seen firsthand how the Health Buddies program is bringing friendship, wellness tips, and a new sense of community to adults with chronic conditions.
Heather, a Community Paramedic in the Mobile Integrated Health unit, shared the story of a father and daughter she referred to Health Buddies.
The father, Reggie, homebound and staring at the same four walls day after day, began to look forward to calls from his Health Buddy, someone who traveled, shared stories, and brought the outside world in. Each call was a reminder that life was still happening beyond his walls, and that he was still part of it.
But the real miracle was Reggie’s daughter. She had been so busy caring for her father that she’d stopped caring for herself. After joining the program, she started fixing her hair, going for walks, even joining a gym. “It was like she came back to life,” Heather said. “The empowerment this program gave them was amazing to see.”
These calls aren’t just conversation, they’re connection. For some seniors, knowing they had someone to talk to the next day was what kept them from calling 911 when they felt overwhelmed. For others, it’s the friendship, encouragement, and routine that bring a sense of purpose back into their lives. As Heather put it, “People feel empowered. They feel like someone cares.”
The Health Buddies program is free and open to anyone 18 and older who could use a friendly, consistent voice on the other end of the line. Whether it’s swapping stories, sharing a laugh, or just knowing someone will check in tomorrow, it can make all the difference.
Lend an ear, share a story, change a life. Sign up to be a Health Buddy today. Email HealthBuddies@SeniorsInService.org or click the button to sign up today!