Group Eyes Southington In Fight To Combat Loneliness For Elderly, Disabled

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A statewide nonprofit visited with Southington town officials recently seeking support in its quest to help ease the loneliness of the disabled and elderly.

The Southington Town Council hosted representatives of Manchester-based UR Community Cares, a nonprofit that matches a network of volunteers with seniors/disabled folks throughout Connecticut who could use a boost, both in spirit and in their daily lives.

Michelle Puzzo, the co-founder and director of UR Community Cares (pronounced like "Your Community Cares"), told the council at its last meeting Jan. 23 Southington has 1,200 disabled individuals under 65, in addition to the elderly.

The program being kicked off in Southington would serve the disabled over 18 and the elderly over 70, Puzzo said.

She said there is a pool of some 35,000 volunteers in Connecticut that help out with UR Community Cares clients, doing anything from transportation services, house work, yard work, grocery shopping and cooking meals.

Perhaps more than anything, however, Puzzo told council members these volunteers provide companionship to an isolated population, with her desire being for the Southington community to volunteer and help.

Puzzo said volunteers are subject to background checks and, if they're minors, parental consent.

She said volunteers do not need to donate anything financially to the group, just their time.

A former physical therapist, Puzzo came up with the idea after noticing a plethora of folks she served doing home therapy didn't have family to help, yet didn't qualify for home care program aid, which can be expensive.

'There was just so many factors that made me think there has to be a better way to connect residents in the local area,"she said, adding the volunteer program not only helps these types of clients, but can also help provide respite for burned-out caregivers looking for a break.

"This is where UR Community Cares comes in,"Puzzo said. "There is a dire need for companionship. Many people are having many mental health crises."

According to Puzzo's, the group's website was created via donations to help volunteers sign up and be matched with clients.

She said, so far, the Southington Police Department has pledged support for the organization by posting an information page about Community Cares on its SPD website.

In addition, the SPD and Community Cares are utilizing a database of at-risk folks in town to determine if they could be potential clients.

The SPD maintains the voluntary database to aid law enforcement should they be called to an address with at-risk folks.

According to Puzzo, most volunteers are aged anywhere from their 30s to 50s.

Councilmen then heard from one volunteer, Southington resident Regina Coviello, who meets once a week to talk with an 80-year-old veteran who she now considers a friend, she said.

She urged the Southington community to join her in volunteering to help the cause.

"Southington has a great opportunity to help our residents with UR Community Cares," Coviello said. "If everyone was capable of giving up one hour a month, we could help everyone."

Southington councilman endorsed the group, including Councilman Christoper Palmieri.

"This is wonderful," he said, adding he likes the fact it can bring communities together in town while, at the same time, serving an at-risk population facing the scourge of loneliness.

For the minutes of the Jan. 23 Southington Town Council meeting, click on this link.

For the Southington Police Department's information page on UR Community Cares, visit this link.

For more information on UR Community Cares and to volunteer, visit this link.