Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s Phone Pals program is a way Paul Gillis reaches people who might otherwise go days without conversation. “Being a Phone Pal volunteer is a way that I can help people,” he said. “As we age, loneliness and isolation are not healthy. That includes me, too. By being a Phone Pal, I can reach people and talk to them so they’re less isolated for the time we speak.”
Paul shares that the people he calls often have limited mobility and can’t easily get out into the community. The calls become a way to check in, talk through the week, and hear about their lives and experiences. “A lot of being a Phone Pal is listening,” he said.
One of his first Phone Pals was receiving Meals on Wheels and had worked as a pediatric nurse. As they talked, they realized they knew many of the same doctors and shared connections within the community, which made conversation feel easy and familiar. That sense of shared place continues with his current Phone Pal as well. Because they both live in southern Maine, their conversations reflect a shared understanding of the area and everyday life.
He’s now been speaking with his current Phone Pal for several months, and that connection came easily through shared interests and background. “I’ve met some really nice people through this program,” he said. “I’ve gotten to learn about their lives, and that’s enriched mine.”
Paul shares that part of what makes the program work is how it’s set up. Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s Phone Pals coordinator helps match people based on their interests and backgrounds, and the timing of calls is decided between the volunteer and the person they’re calling. A typical call lasts about half an hour, but it can be shorter or longer depending on what works, making it flexible and easy to fit into daily life. There’s no travel or preparation required, making it easy for both people to socialize without leaving home. That flexibility also helps the connection feel natural and consistent, and allows relationships to build over time.
For Paul, the value of the program comes through in those phone conversations. “You hear their voice. You hear how they’re doing in their tone,” he said. “That’s important.” In a time when so much communication happens through texts and emails, those real conversations stand out. “People live full lives. Sharing that with someone else is really rewarding. Without these calls, people would be more isolated and fewer people would hear their story.”
That connection goes both ways. “I’m helping someone while at the same time I’m being helped with my own social connection,” he said.
For anyone unsure about volunteering, Paul encourages them to try it. The time commitment is manageable, the structure is flexible, and Southern Maine Agency on Aging helps make the best match. “Just give it a try,” he said. “It’s a win-win.”
Learn more about Phone Pals here.
Register to volunteer here.
