A program to help P.E.I. seniors from becoming socially isolated is being revamped, with more volunteers than ever before.

Garden Home resident Edna Rivers hopes to be part of the Friendly Visitor program. (CBC)

Organizers say the Friendly Visitor program improves the quality of life for many Islanders.

"People who are socially connected tend to be happier and healthier, and this is a social connection," said program co-ordinator Linda-Jean Nicholson.

Edna Rivers, an 87-year-old now living at the Garden Home in Charlottetown, is considered the perfect candidate for the program. Most of her family lives off-Island, so she doesn't get many visitors.

"That would be lovely, I'm partial to strangers," said Rivers.

"It does get lonely, you have to kind of watch and make your own friends,"

Under the program a volunteer would drop by once a week for at least six months. Volunteers go through background checks, training, and then are paired up with like-minded people.

The original program, called the Peer Helper program, started in 2005. It costs $15,000 a year to run and is funded through the province.

The P.E.I. Seniors Federation currently has 70 volunteers and is looking for more.