Minnesota Phone Line for Older Adults Marks Five Years of Connection

(KNSI) — A free phone service designed to reduce isolation among older Minnesotans is marking its fifth anniversary this month.

Coffee Talk, operated by Friends & Co., connects adults 62 and older with trained volunteers for casual conversation. The drop-in line requires no registration or appointment, and callers can remain anonymous if they choose.

The service launched in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic when many older adults lost access to in-person social activities. Since then, volunteers have answered more than 10,000 calls and logged over 3,700 hours of conversation.

Coffee Talk operates statewide on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Callers can reach the line at 877-238-2282 or 612-746-0728 within the Twin Cities.

Volunteers receive training in active listening and creating welcoming conversations. Topics range from everyday subjects like weather and hobbies to memories and reflections. Callers may phone in as often as they like during operating hours.

“Coffee Talk works because it’s simple: a real person, a listening ear, and no barriers,” said James Falvey, executive director of Friends & Co. “For many older adults, especially those experiencing isolation, this program offers consistency, dignity, and connection-one call at a time.”

Friends & Co, formerly Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly, was founded in 1972 and offers programs aimed at reducing loneliness among older adults through visiting companionship, phone services, and social gatherings.

More information is available by clicking here.

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