Rapp at Home began this program during the Covid pandemic, providing monthly visits to help older adults in the community who may be isolated, lonely, or recovering from an illness. As the United States Surgeon General noted in 2023, isolation has serious health effects, including increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia. Based on the feedback from our Friends indicating how much they appreciated these visits, we have continued this program.
To alleviate a sense of isolation, Rapp at Home volunteers deliver “kindness gifts,” such as soup and bread in the winter, bouquets of flowers made by the Rappahannock Garden Club in May, and safety items like nightlights and smoke detectors. Even more important, our volunteers spend time speaking with the Friend. Sometimes, the visit lasts 10 minutes and sometimes a visit might last an hour–and sometimes the volunteer will go back later, just because the visit has generated a friendship. No matter the length of the interaction, these gifts and visits help reassure the Friends that they are still valued members of our community.