A Visit That Matters: Inside JFS’s Friendly Visitor Program

JFS’s Friendly Visitor Program connects volunteers with older adults who welcome regular company. The program invites a volunteer and client to spend time together twice each month, doing whatever brings joy. Some pairs enjoy board games, while others take leisurely walks through the neighborhood, sharing stories along the way. Many simply sit together, watching favorite shows and commenting on the plot twists. 

There are no set curriculum or proscribed activities—just authentic human connection. 
What makes this program work is its beautiful simplicity. All that is required is a willingness to show up and connect. 

The impact ripples both ways. Older adults gain companionship and a renewed sense of being valued and remembered. Volunteers often share that these visits become highlights of their month—opportunities to slow down, listen to perspectives shaped by decades of experience, and rediscover the quiet power of being present. Many matches grow into genuine friendships. 

If you have four hours a month, you already have everything needed to make a real difference in someone’s life. No grand gestures required—just you, showing up twice a month, ready to play cards, take a walk, or enjoy whatever the afternoon brings. 

Older adults who or are receiving services from JFS Wise are eligible for Friendly Visitors. New clients go through a basic interview and home visit to ensure that our staff can make the best possible match.    

More Than a Visit 
A short story by Mitch G., Friendly Visitor Volunteer 

I found the Friendly Visitors Program to be both worthwhile and deeply rewarding. When the program coordinator, Aviv Touitou, contacted me about a potential match, she mentioned that the client was interested in history, and his sister added that he loved music. Since I share those interests, I decided to give it a try, and I’m very glad I did. 

When you think about it, a perfect match isn’t really necessary. Many of us have different opinions and interests from our friends, spouses, siblings, and parents, and we still get along. 

At our first meeting, the client and I introduced ourselves, and he gave me a tour of the assisted-living facility, including his room. We talked about our lives. I showed him pictures of my family and our pets on my phone, and he told me about his sister, brother, and children. We discussed our professions and hobbies. He told me he loved sailing and had once owned a 24-foot sailboat. 

I played YouTube videos on my phone of Koko Taylor, one of his favorite blues singers. He loved it, tapping his feet, singing along, whistling, and pretending to play a keyboard. It was a joy to watch. Over the course of our many visits, I found my phone to be a very useful tool. My friend was especially engaged when viewing pictures and listening to music. During one visit, I showed him photos I had taken of X-ray images that my wife and I had seen at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. He had a great time identifying images of familiar objects such as a toaster, transistor radio, telephone, and camera, as well as more unusual ones like a cobra and seashells. 

When we first met, my friend had moderate dementia. He would often ask me, “So what’s new?” every five or ten minutes. I learned to accept this with a sense of humor and would repeat myself, adding a little something new each time. On another visit, I asked whether he could still play the banjo he kept in his room. He said he could and played a short tune for me. I recorded it on my phone. I treasure that video as a cherished memory. 

I visited my friend every Monday for many months. His sister told me he looked forward to my visits, and I did too. Unfortunately, he had cancer, and his health gradually deteriorated. He became increasingly tired, eventually could no longer use a walker and relied on a wheelchair, and his dementia worsened. Even so, our visits remained meaningful. 

On the last Monday I came to visit him, he had passed away just minutes before I arrived. His sister, her husband, and the rabbi were there. His sister told me that the rabbi had recited prayers, and that my friend, though barely conscious, mouthed the words along with him. She said he passed away peacefully, and that she felt his soul leave his body--a very special experience for her. 
I later attended a beautiful ceremony for my friend at the temple and went to shiva at his sister’s home. At these gatherings, I learned more about his life. I told his brother that I had visited him every Monday, much like Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. His brother laughed and said that he actually works for Mitch Albom. It truly is a small world. 

I miss my friend. It was a privilege to know him. I am grateful that I participated in the Friendly Visitors Program and plan to do so again in the future. I highly recommend this program. 

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For more information about JFS’ WISE programs, please visit www.jfsannarbor.org/wise.