"She's so thoughtful," says Grace. "She
gets my groceries for me, takes me to the drugstore and
bank. Once she even found a wheelchair for me to borrow,"
marvels Grace, whose rheumatoid arthritis makes walking
difficult. She sums up her feelings about her Senior Companion
this way: "Everything she does is wonderful. I don't
know what I'd do without her."
The Senior Companion Program, which began in Vermont in
1981, is a federally funded nationwide program that addresses
the needs of homebound elders. Without the help of its trained
volunteers, many older adults could not continue to live
at home or would be forced to find more costly alternatives.
Companions provide the two most important parts of the
equation for bringing meaning into the lives of frail seniors:
help and friendship. What is the profile of a typical Senior
Companion? They are in reasonably good physical and emotional
health, possess a sense of humor, patience, a respect for
differences and most of all, a desire to help. "There
are people out there who want to make a difference in elders'
lives and help them stay in their homes. For the most part
they feel that they gain more from the experience than they
give," says Lisa Berkson, program coordinator for southeastern
Vermont.
Indeed, most report that they look forward to visits with
their elders and derive satisfaction from the program's
structure and knowing that there is someone counting on
them. Many relationships between elders and Senior Companions
become lasting friendships. Joyce Gantt, who retired from
North Carolina to Vermont, has been a Senior Companion in
the Brattleboro area for four years. She visits eight different
homebound seniors a week, filling her time by being useful
to others and bringing light into their lives.
"I am very happy being a Senior Companion,"
she says. "I enjoy people and look forward to being
with them and doing things for them." One of her
elders is currently ninety and in the past she had a 96
year-old man on her schedule. "He was a wonderful
gentleman. We often had long conversations about our lives."
Typical services that Joyce and other Senior Companions
provide include driving to medical appointments, running
errands, preparing a light lunch, reminding clients to take
medications, encouraging activity, and most often just sitting
and talking. Senior Companions receive a tax-free hourly
stipend, mileage reimbursement and free trainings.
There are currently ten active Senior Companions in Windham
and Windsor counties and more are needed. To be eligible
you must:
* be age 60 or over
* have your own transportation
* meet income guidelines
* be willing to work at least 15 hours a week
* be in good health
Most agree that they receive much more from the program
than they give. Companion Joyce Gantt says simply, "It
was the answer to my prayers."
RESOURCES
- Lisa Berkson, Senior Companion Coordinator for the Council
on Aging for Southeastern Vermont, can provide information
about the program, eligibility and upcoming spring training
sessions (802-257-2338).
- Senior Help-Line (800-642-5119) can provide information
about the Senior Companion Program and other services
available to seniors in southeastern Vermont.
