LEHI – When Diana Johnson and Linda Rich first met two years ago, they quickly became friends.

“Mostly we just do fun things, like talk,” said Rich, 77.

Rich was having back problems when she learned about Select Health’s “Daddy” service.

“There were times when I was just depressed and couldn’t do anything,” she said. “And so I thought, well, this would help, you know, a little housework or just someone to talk to.”

“When I met Linda, I kept coming,” said Johnson, 68. “I told her I would come whether she wanted me or not.”

Johnson decided to become a “Papa Pal” herself after becoming a victim of this treatment following her own surgery.

“I got a call from Select Health telling me about a benefit I didn’t know about,” she recalls. “They said something like, ‘We can send someone to help you with light housework, if you need a companion, they can take you to the doctor and then pick up prescriptions, whatever you need.’ And I thought, that’s something I could do when I get healthy again.”

“We humans are social beings and we need these connections not only biologically to stay alive, but also to stay healthy and well in all areas, including emotionally,” says Alicia Santillo, program director of Healthy Connections at Select Health.

Santillo said a lack of social contact, especially in older adults, can lead to cognitive decline, depression and isolation.

“It’s easy to forget how much we need other people in our lives and how much we can rely on other people, especially in difficult times,” she said. “So (Dad) is a great way to bridge that gap.”

Santillo said Papa Pals are vetted employees who are specially trained to help the elderly and provide them “the companionship they need.”

As Papa Pal, Johnson has made hundreds of visits to all kinds of people in need.

“I’ve never looked back,” she said. “It’s a great thing to do in my life.”

She loves learning new things from the people she visits – she said Rich got her into genealogy. “She’s the genealogy queen,” Johnson said.

“The great thing about Papa Pals is that there’s someone outside of your normal circle of friends, your normal bubble, that you can count on,” Rich said. “(Diana) really cares about me. We’ve cried together, we’ve laughed ourselves sick together. And then we’ve cried again.”

A true friendship with eternal connection.

“I see Linda every other week and I just put it on my calendar and count the days that I’m going to see her,” Johnson said. “I daresay if Dad were no longer around tomorrow, Linda and I would be lifelong friends.”

“Absolutely,” Rich added. “I would call them and say, ‘It’s Thursday. Why aren’t you here?'”

Depending on your plan, Select Health members are eligible for up to 120 hours of Papa Services per year. For more information, call 888-452-4553 or visit selecthealth.org.