Kupuna News A Magazine For And About Hawai`i's Seniors (April - June 2014)

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Senior Companion Program Mary is an 81-year-old Senior Companion volunteer who spends up to 20 hours per week helping frail seniors with daily living tasks that have become difficult or impossible for them to do alone. She also provides respite to care givers allowing them to have much needed time off. Caregivers and the seniors who receive services from Mary express praise and are grateful for all that she does. They don’t know how they would get by without her. 81 year-old Senior Companion volunteer, George, has been giving his time to the Senior Companion Program (SCP) for fourteen years. George provides much needed transportation services to seniors in the Pahoa area so they can get to appointments or pick up groceries and other necessities. The seniors that receive help from George appreciate all that he does and looks forward to their visits with him. The SCP has been quietly at work in communities across Hawai‘i since 1978. The program is sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service, and is administered locally by the Department of Human Services, Adult Protective and Community Services Branch. The goal of the program is to engage individuals age 55 and older, particularly those with limited incomes, in a high quality volunteer experience. The SCP also provides a cost effective option in the continuum of care available to Hawai‘i’s aging population. Services provided by Senior Companion volunteers help frail seniors maintain independence primarily in their own homes. SCP Volunteers can assist with daily living tasks such as grocery shopping and bill paying. They offer friendship, companionship and emotional support. Senior Companion volunteers can also accompany seniors to doctor’s appointments and encourage exercise and mind stimulation. Senior Companion volunteers also provide respite to caregivers who are often family members. Care giving can be physically and emotionally demanding as well as stressful. Many caregivers report feeling isolated and lack support. Senior Companion volunteers are a resource that allows the caregiver to take a needed break. The SCP volunteer becomes a lifeline to the family and also gains satisfaction by helping others. This mutual benefit is one of most positive aspects of the program. Senior Companion volunteers receive a non taxable stipend that does not affect their current benefits. They also receive meal and transportation allowances, supplemental accident and liability insurance, physical exam at no cost, and paid training, vacation, and sick leave. The SCP isn’t just a win-win – it’s a triple win for senior volunteers, for frail elders, and for communities everywhere looking for a cost effective way to care for their aging population. Please contact Coordinated Services for the Elderly in Hilo (808) 961-8777, Kona (808) 323- 4320 or the SCP Office in Honolulu at (808) 832-0340. Kupuna News 4 Information and Assistance (808) 961-8777