It would be days, sometimes weeks. No phone calls. No visitors. No one to talk to.

Just silence. No one checking in.

It was just him – in his apartment. Trying to get by day by day.

But thanks to Monadnock at Home, the silence would soon come to an end.

Kevin’s life always revolved around family. His parents worked in factories, and he often stayed with his grandparents on their dairy farm. Tragedy struck at a young age when his father was killed in a car accident.

He grew up in the Monadnock region, graduated high school and took college classes. He raised his two sons on his own, working long weekend shifts at a home for children with disabilities so he could be there for his own boys during the week.

Kevin has lived in a modest apartment for 40 years. It’s filled with memories – the boys running around, their voices echoing down the hallway. Even after they moved out, family was everything – he loved spending holidays, going camping, and even traveling the world together.

But those memories now feel further and further away.

As a parent, Kevin says those were the happiest years of his life – and he would give anything to have them back.

“The life I’ve lived for the past 30 years basically disintegrated,” Kevin says as he holds back emotion.

He had a falling out with both sons. His sister, who lived nearby, moved to Virginia. A neighbor he often spent time with passed away.

“I was going days and weeks without speaking with another human being,” Kevin shared. “I did everything with my family and now I’m by myself most of the time. It was making me ill.”

In New Hampshire, about 1 in 4 older adults lives alone – putting them at greater risk of social isolation. And over time, that kind of isolation takes a toll – on both physical and mental health.

That’s where programs like Monadnock at Home step in.

Kevin heard about Monadnock at Home in the summer of 2024.

It started small – he attended one of the program’s monthly coffee gatherings at the Peterborough Library.

At first, Kevin barely spoke. But Monadnock at Home kept encouraging him to come back.

Over time, things began to change.

He has opened up more. He’s sharing meals, attending gatherings, and recently went mini-golfing with other members. They tell stories, and sometimes even good laughs.

Kevin cannot afford a car, so Monadnock at Home provides rides to the grocery store, doctor appointments, and social events. When the weather allows, he rides his electric bike.

“I’m really grateful for Monadnock at Home,” Kevin shares. “Without them, I would be alone. They help me interact with the world.”

Monadnock at Home is a paid membership program. But for people like Kevin – living on a fixed income – it’s donors who make this connection possible.

Today, Kevin’s love for the outdoors still shows. He grows plants and creates miniature landscapes using stone, moss, and wood.

His next project? A miniature version of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, with his own creative twist.

For someone who describes himself as shy and quiet, building new relationships isn’t easy. But now, he has something he didn’t have before – a community.

“I don’t know what I would do without Monadnock at Home,” he shares. “They keep me alive and going.”

And now, Kevin is no longer facing each day alone.