If you’re 55 years of age or better, chances are you’ve led a good, meaningful life, working to improve yourself and others. But sometimes, as we get along in life, we feel less needed, whether due to children growing up and moving on, or lessening work responsibilities, or the effects of age creeping in. But one thing is certain: We can make a difference, no matter our circumstances, age or abilities.

Many seniors 55 and better in Idaho are facing social isolation and loneliness, along with mental health concerns. And there are many in that same age group who are looking for meaning and purpose, or a new adventure in life. Through Idaho State University’s AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Program, we are bringing together both groups in a peer connection program, and you can be part of it.

RSVP stands for Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, and ISU’s program started in April 2025. We serve Bannock, Bingham, Power and Shoshone counties, seeking to combat loneliness and isolation among seniors and providing a vehicle for service for those seeking to address a pressing need right in their own communities.

Our program seeks to match 80 volunteers in our four-county area with 160 seniors in need of friendship and engagement. Each volunteer commits to a three-month term and will be assigned two peers (participants) to visit and engage with. Each volunteer will visit each of their assigned peers for 1.75 hours (1 hour, 45 minutes) a month and make two 30-minute phone calls a month. This equates to a monthly time commitment of five and a half hours, but it is so much more than that. Though this is the bare minimum, we anticipate volunteers will want to do much more. We envision book clubs, craft parties, wellness walks, game nights, art shows and a host of other activities that volunteers and participants plan and participate in together.

My office, the Institute of Rural Health at Idaho State University, will help facilitate introductions among volunteers and participants, and can provide ideas and funding for activities as needed. We are also looking for community partners to help us get the word out about the program, inform citizens about the opportunity to volunteer, and health-related facilities (like nursing homes, long-term care/residential centers, etc.) to serve as volunteer stations where volunteers can go to visit with seniors in need of companionship and friendship.

Will you be part of the solution? If you’re interested, please call Annie Mendoza, project director, at 208-282-6275, or email rsvpseniors@isu.edu. You’ll be amazed at the good you can do in your own backyard. We look forward to serving with you.