The Senior Companion Program of Allegheny County held its annual recognition luncheon at the Edgewood Country Club on June 26. Senior Companions are volunteers, ages 55 and older, who provide regular visits and/or phone calls to other older adults who may be lonely or isolated and could benefit from these interactions. The program currently has 95 volunteers and serves approximately 350 people per year.
Senior Companion Program Manager John Miller kicked off the day’s event by thanking the volunteers for their contributions to the lives of older adults. “You make a huge positive difference in people’s lives.You help to ease loneliness and isolation and show people that they are loved, remembered, and cared for. People look forward to your visits or calls with anticipation and are sorry when they end.”
Miller pointed out that there is an epidemic of loneliness in this country, according to the U.S. Surgeon General, and that Senior Companions play a huge role in helping to combat loneliness and isolation, which lead to negative health outcomes.
He then read testimonials from a sampling of surveys that the program recently administered to assess participant satisfaction. While the surveys were anonymous, some respondents wrote specifically about the impact their volunteers had on their lives, and Miller shared wonderful quotes about Senior Companions Claudia, Lynette, Elaine, Marie and Francine. “You can feel very proud about the great service you are providing. And for those of you whose names weren’t mentioned, you can rest assured that the people you visit feel very positively about you, too.”
The program was founded in 1974 and is celebrating its 52nd year. Miller noted some things that were happening in 1974, including President Nixon resigning from office, Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s career home run record, and Muhammad Ali being named Athlete of the Year. That year, an energy crisis had caused gas prices to “skyrocket” to 53 cents per gallon, which elicited laughter from the crowd.“That’s how many years this program has been helping older adults,” Miller commented.
After opening remarks, local musicians Darryl and Kim Askew entertained the crowd by singing some well-known hits that had several Senior Companions up on the dance floor.
Following a delicious lunch, Jennifer Georgulis from the leadership team of the Area Agency on Aging thanked the Senior Companions for their volunteer service and told them how valuable it is for the agency’s overall mission. She conveyed that the volunteers served about 75,000 hours over the past year and that volunteers average eight hours a week with each participant. “The surveys you helped distribute are already showing your impact,” she said. “Your participants tell us they feel less lonely, more able to stay in their own homes, and more likely to eat regular meals. Nine out of 10 say your visits improve their lives. Thank you for turning ordinary moments into reasons to smile and for making companionship look effortless.”
Miller thanked the partner agencies who have collaborated with the Senior Companion Program for many years to make it successful, including Eastern Area Adult Services, Kane McKeesport Regional Center, LifeSpan, Northern Area Multi-Services and Wesley Family Services. “We truly could not run this program without your consistent effort and dedication.”
The day culminated with the recognition and celebration volunteers who reached various milestones of service. Four Senior Companions were recognized for ten years of service: Claudia Adams, Lauretta Clayton, Cynthia Davis-Dozier and Paulette Gibbs. One Senior Companion, Regina Andrews, was recognized for 15 years of service. “What an amazing accomplishment for all of you,” Miller remarked.“You have helped to brighten the days and lift the spirts of so many older adults over the years, and we are grateful for everything you have done.”
“Being a Senior Companion makes me feel young,” one current volunteer expressed. “It makes me feel important and it’s something to look forward to.”
Volunteers Needed in Our Local Communities
The Senior Companion Program is currently seeking volunteers in certain parts of Allegheny County. “Our goal is to have volunteers in every part of the county so we can serve as many people as possible,” Miller said. Benefits for volunteers include:
- Tax-free stipend and daily meal allowance
- Reimbursement for travel costs
- Monthly training on interesting topics
- Satisfaction from helping others
- Camaraderie and lasting friendships
- An active and healthy routine
Volunteers are most needed in these areas:
North:
- Allison Park
- East Deer
- Etna
- Hampton
- McCandless Township
- Millvale
- Ross Township
- Shaler Township
- West Deer
South:
- Baldwin
- Bethel Park
- Brentwood
- Castle Shannon
- Finleyville
- Jefferson Hills
- Mt. Lebanon
- South Park
East:
- North Versailles
- Oakmont
- Pitcairn
- Plum Borough
- Verona
West:
- Collier
- Coraopolis
- Findlay Township
- Green Tree
- Imperial
- Moon Township
- North Fayette Township
- Presto
- Robinson
- Scott Township
- Sewickley
If you live in one of these areas and would like to volunteer, the Senior Companion Program would love to hear from you. “Together, we can help more older adults combat loneliness, maintain their independence, and enjoy richer lives,” Miller commented. “At the same time, our volunteers gain the profound rewards of meaningful service.”
To learn more about the Senior Companion Program, call Program Manager John Miller at (412) 350-4061 or the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging SeniorLine at (412) 350-5460.
