CHAT
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CONTACT Reassurance Calling Program
Who We Are
CONTACT Reassurance is a program of Contact Care Line Inc., East Tennessee’s oldest crisis hotline. Safety concerns and social isolation threaten the ability for seniors to live independently. CONTACT Reassurance provides highly-trained volunteers to make daily calls to seniors who live alone or are homebound, and have little to no caregiver support.
Our Vision: Building a world where older adults and the homebound remain safe and have someone who really listens.
Our Mission: To help older adults maintain an independent living status and reduce their social isolation.
There are no fees for our services and we largely depend on individual donors for funding. Since we are a 501c3 non-profit organization, your donations are tax deductible.
What We Do
CONTACT Reassurance provides…
CONTACT Reassurance makes daily, pre-arranged reassurance calls to seniors, to help them maintain their independence. Two types of calls are made:
Social Calls for seniors who wish to have a daily, bright connection with friendly Reassurance Specialists (RS).
Safety Checks are similar to Social Calls in terms of conversation, but have an emergency component. If the senior does not answer after three calls, emergency contacts are called. If the emergency contacts cannot be reached, the RS will request for the police to make a welfare check at the senior’s address.
Medication Reminders are made when requested for either types of calls.
Training for volunteers, in active listening, elderly crisis, and mental health awareness.
For information on volunteering for CONTACT Reassurance, please click on this link: https://contactlistens.org/volunteer/reassurance-specialist/.
Calling Hours:
CONTACT Reassurance makes calls to seniors in need in three separate shifts. If you would like to receive calls, here are the time windows in which volunteers make them. Seniors can receive up to two calls a day.
Sunday- Friday
- (9 a.m.- 12 p.m.)
- (2 p.m.- 5 p.m.)
- (7 p.m.- 10 p.m.)
The Need
The 2010 U.S. Census reported 17.4% of Anderson County residents were 65 or older. That percentage increased to 19.7% by 2016. The U.S. Census projects the number of people aged 65+ in Tennessee will rise 46% over the next 15 years. These percentages will continue to climb as the “Baby Boomer” generation ages.
Most of the population would prefer to age in their own homes, maintaining their independence. But safety concerns, coupled with social isolation, threaten the capacity of seniors to live independently.
Reassurance Client Application
Interested in receiving our services? Fill out the application below!
Application for reassurance clients to receive reassurance calls once or twice daily. There are two types of calls: Social calls and Safety checks. Social calls are friendly phone conversations to see how the client is doing. Safety checks are similar in conversation to Social calls but they have an emergency component. In Safety checks, if the client does not answer after three calls, the volunteer will notify emergency contacts and in some cases, the police for a welfare check.
By entering your name below, you have applied to CONTACT Reassurance's daily calling program and request enrollment for this program. We will get back to you on your application soon. Thank you!
Special thanks go to the CNS Y-12 Community Investment Fund of East Tennessee Foundation and United Way/Anderson County for their financial support.
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Around 9 every evening, the telephone rings and Frank smiles. At 87, he still lives at home, his scientist’s mind agile even if his body has slowed a bit. The idea of getting a “safety check” didn’t strike his fancy, but a “social call” seemed a good fit. CONTACT Reassurance’s volunteers get his views on the weather, University of Tennessee football, and the latest news. On days that are lonely, they provide a reassuring voice and a chance for a human connection. It helps keep life from slowing down too much.
Frank Stays in Touch -
Miss Lucy, 91, took a quick tumble and found herself trapped behind the headboard of her bed. For nine hours, she hoped for someone to hear her cries. Fortunately, CONTACT’s daily Reassurance Calls to Miss Lucy meant someone would check in. When she did not answer her daily call or the follow-up call, CONTACT’s safety plan went into action. A rescue squad arrived 15 minutes later to free Miss Lucy, who recovered after a brief hospitalization for dehydration. Sometimes, the calls offer a simple daily human touch, but for Miss Lucy that day, CONTACT Reassurance meant lifesaving intervention.
Miss Lucy's Lifesaving Intervention -
One summer evening, Richard, 78, suffered from a stroke in his kitchen. Because of his emergency check-in call from CONTACT Reassurance, he has able to receive the emergency services he needed. However, lying in a hospital bed, there was only one thing on Richard’s mind: who will take care of his two dogs, Sandy and Pooh? He adopted his companions from the local shelter and they are the only family he has left. The Reassurance Specialist called again to check on Richard, and he was able to explain his worries. The volunteer contacted a pet transportation service and Richard’s dogs were rescued before the night was over. Richard appreciated CONTACT Reassurance for getting him help in his greatest hour of need, and he was ecstatic to be reunited with his furry friends.
Richard Reunited
