![\"senior-volunteer\"](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/senior-volunteer.jpg\")
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Photo by Brittany Woolsey<\/em><\/p>\n For Lou Wyatt, being alone all the time in her senior complex apartment was boring. And worse, she didn’t have anyone to share her hobby of playing cards with. That’s when the Friendly Visitor Program stepped in.<\/p>\n Spearheaded by volunteer coordinator Teri L. Hershberg, the Friendly Visitor Program by SCAN Health Plan helps seniors like Wyatt, 83, and countless others across Southern California to find a friend.<\/p>\n Hershberg recruits, trains and matches volunteers with clients who have similar interests and live within the same community.<\/p>\n “Since the beginning, hundreds of volunteers and seniors have been matched as Friendly Visitors,” Hershberg said. “Some of the volunteers have been seeing the same client for over 10 years.”<\/p>\n Because of the program, which started in Long Beach 25 years ago, Wyatt, a Long Beach resident, said her life has changed for the better.<\/p>\n “I had been talking to my social worker about being bored and not having anything much to do, and I love to play cards,” Wyatt said. “One day she called me up and told me she found someone for me to play cards with. I was in shock. And Karen came over, and I was so happy to meet her. I felt like I’ve known her for a while.”<\/p>\n Karen Volgardsen, 50, a volunteer with the program and Wyatt’s companion of two months, said the program has allowed her to do what she loves most — help others.<\/p>\n A common bond of being away from family allowed the two women to come together because they were both looking for something to occupy their time.<\/p>\n “She has kids and grandkids, and so do I. I was only supposed to stay an hour the first time, and I think I stayed three hours. I wanted to stay that long, too,” Volgardsen said.<\/p>\n For Volgardsen, whose parents have both died, Wyatt is like a second mother, and she looks forward to introducing her to her children.<\/p>\n “Oh, girl, I would love that,” Wyatt said, exemplifying the playfulness and comfort between the two women.<\/p>\n Every Saturday afternoon for the last two months, under the Friendly Visitor Program, the women have met to play cards or dominoes, and to talk. Even after Volgardsen leaves, Wyatt said she remains spirited just because of the visit.<\/p>\n “I feel like going to do something positive after she leaves because she has me in that mood and makes me feel motivated,” Wyatt said.<\/p>\n The Friendly Visitor Program is always looking for volunteers, Hershberg said. Right now, they are especially in need of bi-lingual Spanish visitors and volunteers that live in the South Bay.<\/p>\n Hershberg said anyone who is over 18 and has one hour a week to spend with a senior in their community is eligible to be a volunteer.<\/p>\n