The expansion of our senior population in the coming decades means new challenges for supporting each individual with their needs and their personal goals in later life. It also means new opportunities as these aging adults look for fitting ways to stay involved and serve their local San Francisco Bay Area communities. With a wealth of life experience and an investment in aging healthfully and vibrantly, seniors themselves may be an invaluable support system to help meet some of the challenges of the growing senior demographic.
Along with the revolutionary programs, services, and resources that are laying the foundation for more and more seniors to age in place and preserve their independence for as long as possible , older adults who want to play a dynamic role in the Bay Area community can offer the essential services of compassionate friendship and patient assistance. Senior Companion Programs are helping to connect these older adults and those who can benefit from the assistance. Not only are aging adults receiving well-rounded support in this way, but powerful friendships and wider connections are also being forged.
The Senior Companion Program is a governmental initiative that pairs volunteers 55 years of age and older with aging adults and adults living with disabilities who need support with everyday tasks and, of course, companionship. Volunteer companions serve for 15 to 40 hours each week and receive a tax-free stipend if they qualify as low-income , training, and supplemental insurance for their service. This assistance can go a long way toward helping seniors stay in their homes and remain independent, and it gives the volunteers a meaningful occupation and an additional source of income.
For everyone involved, the program helps to build connections and community. The benefits are wide-reaching for those who receive senior companionship and for their families and caregivers. For those who are affected by disabilities, physical or mental illness, cognitive impairment, vision or hearing impairment, lack of transportation, isolation, or other concerns, home companion services can help take care of a range of tasks that make living at home more possible, more comfortable, more enjoyable for those aging in place.
Some of the benefits include:. Those who participate in the program and seek assistance will be paired up with a local volunteer who will understand the particular challenges of older adults in the area, as well as the resources available to improve their quality of life. The volunteers who take part in the Senior Companion Program also experience diverse benefits that are both practical and personal.
