Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Seniors Wanted For National Organization

Are you over sixty, with time on your hands, living on a limited income and could use a little extra money?

The Area Agency on Aging Senior Companion Volunteer Program is now recruiting seniors who want to remain active in their community, enjoys companionship with other seniors, wants to feel needed and useful as well as enjoying helping others. This program is funded and supported by the National Senior Service Corp. and the Area Agency on Aging of West Central Arkansas.

Being a part of this program you would receive a small stipend ($2.45 hour, which is tax free and cannot be counted as income), mileage, annual physical examination, and accident and liability insurance while on duty.

However, what really keeps senior companions in the program is something less than tangible, but far more valuable. Being needed and appreciated is the real reward.

SCV?s (Senior Companion Volunteers) receive 40 hours initial training. Thereafter they meet each month for four hours in-service. These training sessions are useful in exchanging ideas and honing the skills they may need to help understand some of the problems their home bound clients may be facing.

Working four hours a day, five days a week assisting home bound frail elderly who need a little help to remain as independent as possible is required.

Although these volunteers perform a number of tasks in the homes, such as light housekeeping, assisting with personal care, preparing meals or providing transportation, they are also companions. They may share childhood experiences, enjoy similar crafts, going fishing, playing dominos or gong out for a meal.

The SCV?s main goal is to enhance the life of the home bound through sharing and caring.

If you are interested and would like to know more about this program, call Barbara Priest, county coordinator, at 1-870-245-3663, or call 1-800-467-2174.