A Friendly Voice on the Line: ‘Sallapam’ Project to Help Seniors Beat Loneliness

Thrissur: For thousands of elderly citizens, growing old often means growing more alone. Families shrink, routines fade, and days stretch on without conversation. But starting this August in Kerala, a new initiative promises to bring comfort and connection through something as simple as a regular phone call.
The Department of Social Justice is launching ‘Sallapam’, a project aimed at easing the emotional burden of senior citizens by connecting them with trained “phone friends.” These will be Master of Social Work (MSW) students, selected and trained to engage the elderly in meaningful weekly conversations. The idea is to create a space for the elderly to feel heard, valued, and less alone.
The project is being implemented in collaboration with Elderline, Kerala’s official helpline for senior citizens (14567), which already receives over 3,000 calls every month. While Elderline primarily assists with emergencies and provides information on pensions and welfare schemes, a growing number of callers are simply reaching out because they feel lonely. Sallapam is being developed to meet this specific need.
Senior citizens interested in the project can register by calling Elderline. The registration process is expected to be completed by next month, after which Elderline staff will begin training MSW students on how to serve as empathetic listeners and consistent companions over the phone.
Once trained, student volunteers will be matched with senior citizens who need social and emotional support. They will call them once or twice a week, depending on availability. In cases where further support is needed, trained tele-counsellors will be brought in to assist.
The Social Justice Department believes Sallapam will benefit both generations — while the elderly get the warmth of human interaction, the students gain practical exposure to working with vulnerable communities and develop skills in communication and counselling. The entire process will be supervised through Elderline to ensure accountability and quality.
Kerala has one of the highest proportions of elderly population in the country, with nearly 16-18% of its people above the age of 60. That figure is expected to rise to 23% by 2036. With this demographic shift comes the responsibility of reimagining care — not just in terms of health, but in emotional and mental well-being.
Health experts have long warned that isolation in old age can lead to depression, cognitive decline, and weakened immunity. Even simple conversations can play a powerful role in keeping these risks at bay. By giving seniors a consistent voice at the other end of the line, Sallapam hopes to turn routine phone calls into meaningful connections.