• Laura I van Dyck, Kirsten M Wilkins, Jennifer Ouellet, Gregory M Ouellet, and Michelle L Conroy.
• Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine (LIVD, KMW, MLC), New Haven, CT. Electronic address: laura.vandyck@yale.edu.
• Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2020 Sep 1; 28 (9): 989-992.

ObjectiveSocial isolation and loneliness-common concerns in older adults-are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. To address social isolation in nursing home residents, the Yale School of Medicine Geriatrics Student Interest Group initiated a Telephone Outreach in the COVID-19 Outbreak (TOCO) Program that implements weekly phone calls with student volunteers.MethodsLocal nursing homes were contacted; recreation directors identified appropriate and interested elderly residents. Student volunteers were paired with elderly residents and provided phone call instructions.ResultsThree nursing homes opted to participate in the program. Thirty elderly residents were paired with student volunteers. Initial reports from recreation directors and student volunteers were positive: elderly residents look forward to weekly phone calls and express gratitude for social connectedness.ConclusionsThe TOCO program achieved initial success and promotes the social wellbeing of nursing home residents. We hope to continue this program beyond the COVID-19 pandemic in order to address this persistent need in a notably vulnerable patient population.Copyright © 2020 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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