Americans are living longer than ever before.
More older adults will need long-term care, but prefer to live at home rather than in a nursing home or hospital. Senior Companions are volunteers who spend 15 to 20 hours each week, or up to 40 hours, giving one-on-one attention to adults having difficulty with daily living tasks.
Senior Companions provide the assistance many older adults and people with disabilities may need in order to live independently. A Senior Companion may go along to help with grocery shopping or for a walk. They may spend time helping to write a letter, prepare a meal or pay a bill. Senior Companions make the lives of those they serve less lonely by offering simple friendship and a helping hand.
Interested in being a Volunteer?
To be a Senior Companion, you must:
- be at least 55 years old
- successfully complete our pre-service training and a police history check
- be income eligible
- enjoy spending time with other older adults
For your service, you will receive:
- max 40 hours of paid (stipend) volunteering
- ongoing paid training
- a tax-free stipend which will not affect other benefits
- mileage reimbursement to and from service
- an annual physical examination
- excess accident and liability insurance
- ongoing staff support
“It’s so nice to be helped by my friend, someone who really wants to be there with me … I’m not so depressed anymore.” – Client
“I don’t know what you’ve done to my mother, but it’s such a wonderful improvement. She’s been getting out of the house for the first time in years. If it weren’t for her Senior Companion, my mother would definitely be in a nursing home.” – Daughter of a Client
For more information on the Senior Companion Program, sign up here or call 269-983-7058.
Program supported by:
