YouAsk Kim
Four friends of different ages walking arm in arm along a stone street at dusk, one carrying flowers

Together · 20 min

A phone call for someone on their own

Give from home: a regular phone call with someone who lives alone or rarely sees people.

20 minutesFrom the library, free to readFour steps
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Not everyone can give time outside the home. A regular phone call with someone who lives alone, a neighbour, an older relative, someone from a group, is a way to give from your own chair, and it can matter a great deal to the person at the other end.

The steps

Four small steps,in your own time.

  1. Think of someone who might enjoy a regular call: a neighbour, an older relative, someone from a faith or community group. Or ask a local service that pairs callers with people who live alone whether they need volunteers.

  2. Agree a time that suits you both, such as Wednesday afternoons, and keep it short to start, around twenty minutes.

  3. Talk about everyday things: the weather, what you are reading or watching, their memories, news from the street.

  4. Keep the time steady, and let them know in advance if you cannot make it.

The reason

Why it helps

A regular call gives someone something to look forward to and a reliable point of contact. It also builds a connection for you. And it is something you can do even when your own time and energy are limited.

A gentle variation

If you are a caregiver yourself, a regular call can be good for you too, with someone who understands. If phone calls are hard for the other person, try video, a letter, or a short message instead.

One hand resting over another on a wooden table

WE · TRIBE

Try itwith someone.

Involve your household: children can say hello on the call, or draw a picture to send.

Make it a plan in HIVELIVE, with WE

Try it today

This week, call one person who lives alone, and ask if they would like a regular call.

Add it to your day

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