Savoie: the Little Brothers of the Poor offer to visit those who are alone at Christmas

When you are isolated, the holiday season can be particularly hard. And that's why the association of the Little Brothers of the Poor in Savoie propose visits to isolated elderly people, notably on December 24 and 25. Volunteers will spend about an hour with someone who is alone, and since it's Christmas, they will come with a gift.

“We talked as if we had known each other forever”

It was at Christmas that Vincent began his volunteer work with the Little Brothers of the Poor. This 67-year-old retiree from La Thuile in Les Bauges receives his first mission at Christmas time, that of visiting a 97-year-old lady who lives very isolated in an EHPAD in Chambéry. First of all, a lot of questions arise: “How am I going to behave, what am I going to say, will the person welcome me or reject me, it’s not easy!” And then once you arrive, everything becomes simpler. “We had a great time chatting as if we had known each other forever,” says the volunteer. The gift he brings her, offered by the association, also makes the moment very strong. “She opened the package as if we were under the Christmas tree”he smiles. Since this first visit he has invested a lot in the association, making three visits to three people per week.

2 million elderly people in a situation of isolation in France

The most difficult thing for the Little Brothers of the Poor is reaching isolated people. According to Julien Gachet, the coordinator of the association in Savoie, you most often have to go through intermediaries: family, home help services or nurses, or even CCAS. And the media! “We want to tell those who feel alone, and who want to have a visitor, that they can call us!” Especially since the association is committed to maintaining visits for as long as possible. According to the latest barometer of the Little Brothers of the Poor in 20212 million seniors are isolated from their family and friend circles, and this has more than doubled since 2017.

If you are willing to be a volunteer or if, conversely, you are alone and you would like to receive visitors, you can contact the association in Savoie on 07 77 26 89 53.