About 1,000 volunteers from all over the city are stepping in to help care for the most vulnerable community, older New Yorkers.

The New York City Department for the Aging has revamped its programs for seniors so that volunteers can now interact with those stuck at home virtually.

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Department for the Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez tells News 12 before the pandemic they had about 700 volunteers with their Friendly Visitors Program. People were going for walks and participating in other fun visits with elderly New Yorkers.

Now she says about 1,000 people are calling, using Zoom, Skype and FaceTime to connect with elderly people, keeping them engaged during this difficult time.

She says social interaction is so important for this population, as isolation can cause dementia and other health complications like high blood pressure and heart issues.

"What is the saying that we have? If you make it in New York you can make it anywhere, but we say you don't have to make it alone. It is for us a real important issue, social isolation for all of us, we need to each make sure that we are touching each other spiritually," says Cortes-Vasquez.

The commissioner encourages all New Yorkers, 18 years old and older, to get involved.