BOSTON -- For many seniors, the golden years are anything but golden. Illness and disability can isolate the elderly from society, leaving them lonely and listless.

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Heather Unruh Reports On Group Resources: Match-Up Interfaith Volunteers, Inc. 105 Chauncy St., Ste 801 Boston, MA 02111 617-482-1510 Find Out More About Match-Up Note: Group Sevices Boston and Brookline only

NewsCenter 5's Heather Unruh reported that an organization is playing matchmaker and teaching seniors in Boston and Brookline that you're never too old to make a new friend.

On a cold morning, Wendy Lee and Amy Leung are bringing 85-year-old Irene Herman a little warmth.

The girls are volunteers with an organization called Match-Up. The Boston-based group pairs seniors isolated by age or disability with volunteers who spend a few hours with their match each week.

"She can't go out and she can't see other people so for us we're bringing something new to her every week when we come to see her," Lee said.

"They're wonderful friends together and they're my friends. I appreciate them for what they are and I love them dearly," Herman said.

For 20 years, Match-Up has been keeping seniors connected. Currently, the group has more than 150 active matches.

Volunteers from 9 to 90 years old go through a careful screening process -- similar to a dating service -- to properly match them with seniors' likes, dislikes and location.

"We love to talk about traveling because Irene loves to travel -- nice to hear her experiences -- her stories about her past -- with the elderly their words of wisdom and for us to be able to share with her its just a give and take we learn a lot from each other," Lee said.

For seniors often plagued by loneliness, the companionship is invaluable.

"Knowing that someone's coming of their own free will to spend time with you means that there's a reason that you're there and that you matter to someone in this world and that makes a big difference in all of our lives," Match-Up Executive Director Janet Seckel-Cerrotti said.

Match-Up is always looking for volunteers to spend time with seniors, act as medical escorts for doctor's visits, or even just be a telefriend and call homebound seniors to check on them.