The I-CONNECT Foundation aims to: serve the older population by connecting socially isolated older adults to our community; help enhance quality of life by providing social connections via technology; and promote brain health through meaningful conversations.
Creating social connections
Our program pairs older people with trained volunteers for fun and engaging video chats.
Our program is geared towards older adults who are socially isolated. We connect them with trained volunteers for regular one-on-one conversations.
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Free video chats
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Improves social connection
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Based on research
What people are saying
“It's so nice to talk with you. You're the first person I've talked to all week and I'm stuck in this house all alone. I’m grateful to be able to chat with you and I’m excited to continue being part of this program. Thank you for all that you do.”
— Participant, March 2020
“One of my participants said that this program has been life changing for him. It’s given him a reason to come out of his apartment. He even got inspired to pick up some of his old hobbies again. He’s grateful for what this program has done for him.”
— Volunteer, July 2020
“A participant told me that her family doesn’t want her stepping outside the house, for safety reasons. Meals on Wheels comes by less frequently. She can no longer interact with them. However, she’s grateful that she can talk with us. It’s the highlight of her week.”
— Volunteer, October 2019
Program History
Over the past 10 years, researchers at Harvard Medical School and Oregon Health & Science University have examined how virtual social interactions can impact the well-being of older adults. This research was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Guided by our data, we developed a program for the wider community that features the same conversational material used in our prior research.
FAQs
What are the video chats like?
A trained staff member will call you once a week, using a video conferencing program similar to Skype. Each chat lasts 30 minutes. The staff member leads the conversation, using question prompts for each week. The program is a free service.
What topics do you talk about?
Different topics are covered each week. You and your conversation partner could chat about pets and animals, jobs and work, activities you enjoy, culture, visual arts, school subjects, early American history and many other topics.
Who can enroll in the program?
This program is designed for older adults who are over 65 years old and who have Internet access. It’s geared towards older adults who are socially isolated. If you or someone you know identifies as being socially isolated, we encourage them to sign up for the program.
Who is eligible to volunteer as conversational staff to interact with participants?
Our volunteers come from college internship programs in public health, gerontology, and nursing. Before engaging in video chats, they undergo training as conversational specialists. If your institution is interested in internship opportunities with the I-CONNECT Foundation, please reach out to us. We are enthusiastic about offering community service opportunities to college students in a safe environment.
What is social isolation?
Social isolation is a lack of social connections and contacts. It is associated with various negative health outcomes, including depression and dementia, and it can increase the risk of stroke by 32% and heart disease by 20%. 43% of seniors report daily feelings of loneliness.
What does your research show about social isolation?
Our past research has shown that video-based social interaction has positive impacts on well-being. Past research has also shown that having a rich social network improves health, decreases the likelihood of developing dementia and that people who remain active and stay engaged with others live longer.
How is the program funded?
This program is made possible by financial donations and by volunteers who donate their time to coordinate conversations. The materials (question prompts, topic ideas) used in the program were developed during prior research that was funded by the National Institute of Health.
How to participate
Our team pairs you with a trained volunteer for a 30 minute video chat each week.
To get started, either call us at (360) 873-7439
Have any questions?
We will make sure to answer all the questions that you might have.