When Bob Cast was young young, he prided himself on being self sufficient. He was never the type to reach out to anyone. Now 86 years old and living in Redmond, he found himself hesitant to reach out to others even though he had been feeling lonely for some time.

Then in April 2023, Cast took a chance and picked up the phone. His daughter had referred him to Caring Connections, a program through the Council on Aging of Central Oregon that pairs seniors for weekly phone calls and in-person visits.

Quinn Hollibaugh, 88, was on the other end of the line. He was nervous about the call, too. Both, however felt good after the chat. Soon enough, they were planning to meet in real life.

“You talk on the phone all the time,” said Hollibaugh. “And you have all these expectations of what this person is going to be like, what they are going to look like, are you going to be compatible? What are your religious beliefs? Your political beliefs? You have all these things going through your head. When you walk up to the door and say, ‘Hey, Bob,’ everything changes. All of the expectations you had in your mind change and turn into reality.”

Since that first nervous call, reality shifted for Cast and Hollibaugh. They’ve become more than just a voice on the phone. They’ve become friends.

On Jan. 25, Cast and Hollibaugh sat in Hollibaugh’s living room on Quartz Ave. and chatted about their lives. Over the previous nine months of getting to know each other, they found a lot in common.

Both men grew up poor in rural communities and had problematic relationships with their fathers. They are both widowers, and each suffered from loneliness after their wife died. They both have families, but found younger people too busy.

“They are busy with their lives and I understand that,” said Hollibaugh. “But it’s very unusual to have some of my kids come and see me. Most of them have never been in this house and I’ve been here for five years.”

Both said the Caring Connections program gave their life a new spark.

“It got rid of a lot of loneliness for me,” Cast said. “Before (Hollibaugh) came along and we got to know each other, I didn’t go anywhere. I didn’t do anything. My whole life was around doctor’s office visits and buying groceries. That was it.”

The Caring Connections program pairs seniors together based on common interests and things in common, and their ability to support their match whether that be emotional support or helping with errands, said Jamie Lacore, the Caring Connections program manager.

“These two had quite a bit in common and were roughly the same age and lived in the same place,” Lacore said. “These two seemed like a good match.”

Lacore said the Caring Connections program can be vital for seniors. Many are prone to becoming disconnected from others. Isolation can have serious and negative impacts on the health and wellbeing of seniors, so Lacore said it is important for seniors to find ways to socialize, meet new people and find people they can rely on.

“We all need opportunities to share our stories with another person and to know that there is always someone there to listen,” Lacore said. “Many seniors are no longer able to drive or get out of the house like they used to, so this program is a chance to connect with someone in the community who they might not otherwise have the opportunity to meet.”

When it comes to their friendship, Cast and Hollibaugh lean on each other. Cast, who does not drive anymore, is able to get around town when Hollibaugh picks him up. The two men, in addition to running errands, go out to eat together at least twice a week.

They also spent last Christmas together, with Cast enjoying the holiday with Hollibaugh and his family.

“We are like family now,” Cast said.

Both men said they can count on each other. Sometimes that means just having someone to watch the football game with. Sometimes its something more.

“It establishes someone you can depend on, to be honest with you,” said Hollibaugh. “If you are feeling down or something, Bob knows he can call me. And if he needs something, I try to be there for him when he needs it. And he is the same for me. We have this dynamic between us which really is a good friendship.”