Esther Oertel is program director for the Friendly Visitor Program. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY – Our national population is aging on a grand scale, and Lake County is no exception. In fact, we have a higher percentage of retired folks here than many places in our nation.

Many within the elderly population are what might be called “invisible people.” They have lived busy and productive lives, but are now tucked away in their homes with very little contact with others.

While at one time they raised families, worked in jobs, volunteered within our communities or served our nation in the military, they are now mostly alone, living a confined and isolated life. Many rarely see their family; some wait long periods for even the simplest contact with another human being. They are homebound seniors.

Konocti Senior Support Inc. of Clearlake has a program that benefits otherwise isolated homebound seniors: Friendly Visitors of Lake County.

Through weekly one-hour visits by trained volunteers, the outside world is being brought to the lives of those who otherwise have limited contact with it.

The program is currently funded by the Redbud Healthcare District as a means to preserve the health of the isolated elderly by combating depression through friendly visits. Our program currently serves South Lake County, from Clearlake Oaks to Middletown and west to Kelseyville.

Clients of this program are called “Ami’s” – the French word for friend – and trained and supervised volunteers offer friendship, understanding and compassion by visiting seniors’ homes weekly to chat, write a letter or maybe play cards or work a jigsaw puzzle.

Many of our volunteers are seniors themselves, but volunteers can be of any age. We are currently working with local high schools to provide community service hours for teens that are recommended to our program.

Volunteers are given free training on the specifics of aging, communication and other facets of the program and are then matched to an Ami within their community. They arrange with the Ami a mutually beneficial time for a weekly visit. Volunteers attend a monthly meeting for support, advice and camaraderie.

The motto of Friendly Visitors of Lake County is “Two hearts are better than one.” We are always amazed that such a small slice of time – one hour a week – can bring such great benefits.

We have a waiting list of seniors who are waiting to be matched with a friendly visitor and are on the lookout for caring individuals willing to be volunteers.

The requirements for volunteering are simple: reliable transportation, the willingness to be trained and, most of all, the desire to share one’s heart and spirit with someone in need.

And here’s our little secret: Our volunteers are greatly blessed! They often report that our training and their visits with their Ami benefit their lives greatly.

To volunteer, refer a client or to simply ask a question, contact Friendly Visitor Program Director Esther Oertel, at 995-1417 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Trainings are offered on a continuing basis.

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