BEFRIENDING

About Befriending

Our island-wide Befriending Service reaches out to seniors who are at risk of social isolation. Through weekly home visits, trained befrienders (volunteers) provide social and psycho-emotional support to befriendees (seniors) whilst monitoring their welfare and living environment. The aim is to help seniors age in place within the community, relieve loneliness and improve their well-being.

We also provide community contact for our seniors by coordinating social and recreational activities sponsored by Lions Clubs and various community partners, corporations and individuals. Through working with other eldercare social service agencies and service providers to facilitate better co-ordination in the provision of community-based care and support services, we are committed to enhance our seniors’ quality of life.

Since our inception in 1995, we have served more than 12,000 seniors and trained more than 3,000 befrienders.

Be A Volunteer Befriender

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Why the Need for this Programme

Befriending Services is similar to a “good neighbour programme” where a senior is visited by befrienders (volunteers) in their homes. This seemingly small act cannot be understated. As the ageing population continues to grow exponentially, there is an increasing number of seniors living alone. A decline in neighbourliness over the years put seniors at risk of loneliness and social isolation.

Project Objective

  • Reduce the isolation of lonely seniors and improve their well-being
  • Enable lonely seniors to age-in-place with community support
  • Provide seniors with access to contacts and sources of help

Profile & eligibility criteria

  • 65 years & above
  • Limited or no family support
  • Singapore citizens/permanent residents

Currently, more than 80% of the seniors under our care reside in one or two-room HDB rental flats and over 40% are under the Government’s Public Assistance scheme.

Funding

The Befriending Services is funded by the Ministry of Health.

Refer a Senior

If you know of seniors who meet the above criteria, you can help by referring them to us.

Download the Case Referral/Registration Form and send the completed form via email to befriending@lb.org.sg or fax to 6273 4521.

Case referral form