Any seniors or adults with disabilities who live independently in the community are eligible to receive calls.

To register for telephone reassurance calls call our office at 519-271-2217 ext 23.

An intake will be completed including emergency contact and health information.

Clients will then be place on the schedule and calls will start within one business day.

Calls are made Monday to Friday between 8:45 am and 12:00 pm.

Clients may receive the calls in any combination of days, but the time of the call will remain consistent.

There is no fee associated with the telephone reassurance program.

Telephone reassurance calls are made by trained volunteers with Stratford Meals on Wheels & Neighbourly Services.

Each volunteer has completed a criminal reference check and has supplied us with character references.

Volunteers are placed on a rotating schedule, so if a client receives daily calls the callers will often change from day to day.

It's an unusually warm November day when I sit down to interview John Pudney in his well kept living room. “We'll be joined by some visitors soon,” he says as he gestures to the window looking out on the balcony where a bird feeder gently sways in the breeze. No sooner are the words out of his mouth when a flock of sparrows swoop in to feed. As I stare out the window at our winged visitors I also notice several lush flowering plants spilling out of their pots. As the birds disperse I glance down to the coffee table which is home to several neat stacks of Stamp and Aero-Engineering magazines, more clues about the interests of this lively British import.
For nearly an hour I chat with John about well, John. We cover such topics as his history with the agency, his family, his former life in England and subsequent move to Canada, his former career as an aero-engineer, his world-wide travels, his learning curve with computers and even current economic conditions. “I'm quite the conversationalist,” he quips.
It is conversation, both caring and consistent, that John receives through the Telephone Reassurance program. A client of the program for nearly two years John receives a telephone call Monday through Friday at 9:00 am to check on his health and safety. “I'm quite pleased with the service. It's a nice start to my day”. Telephone Reassurance, a program offered by SMOW&NS since October 2001, relies on volunteers to make calls to clients Monday to Friday mornings. A brief conversation to check on the health and safety of clients living alone, a telephone reassurance call can also include a day/date or medication reminder. Once the volunteers complete the calls they report back on any clients who did not answer the call as well as any concerns about clients they do reach. If a volunteer is unable to reach the client the agency follows up with the client's emergency contact to make sure everything is okay. John notes, “The volunteers are great! They are so cheerful and upbeat. Being that I live alone they are sometimes the only person I talk to during the day and their positive attitude is appreciated”. John also says the service offers peace of mind not only for himself but also for his two daughters who both live out of town.
As I mentioned previously John and I spent some time talking about his history with the agency. This history began in 1989 when he was a volunteer visitor, driver and board member for Neighbourly Services. “I was forced into it by Marjorie,” he chides. Marjorie, John's late wife, was an original staff member of Neighbourly Services. “She was a firm believer in communication and helping others in the community.” When Meals on Wheels and Neighbourly Services amalgamated in 1996 John became Co-Chair of the newly formed Board of Directors. John served on the board for six years, or two consecutive terms. He continued to volunteer as a visitor and driver until a knee replacement led to his retirement in 2006. “Being a former Board Chair and volunteer I am quite enthused to hear and read about the growth and impact of the agency. It's quite satisfying.” 
As I wrap up the interview John poses for a picture. Afterwards he can't resist showing me his favourite picture of himself taken years ago with Marjorie. It's a grand picture indeed and on my way back to the office I think of John and Marjorie and their wonderful gift of service to the Stratford community. I also remember how John says they ended up in Stratford because they admired the beauty of the city when travelling through on the way to Bayfield. If a town's exterior beauty is judged by its architecture and landscapes then a town's inner beauty is judged by its residents. Stratford definitely gained more luster with the addition of the Pudneys.