What is the Senior Companion Program? The Senior Companion Program is a no fee service through which people age 55 and older provide assistance and friendship to at risk elderly and adult individuals who are homebound with special needs, and generally living alone. The program serves Benton, Franklin, Yakima and Walla Walla counties. By taking care of simple chores, providing transportation, and offering contact to the outside world, Senior Companions often are essential in assisting the individuals to live independently. Senior Companions usually serve 6 to 8 “friends” through 20 hours of service per week. How do Senior Companions benefit communities? Senior Companions not only assist clients with chores such as paying bills, grocery shopping and finding transportation to medical appointments, they also help make the lives of the people they serve less lonely. Many Senior Companions serve clients for several years and form meaningful friendships.
How can you make a referral or learn about opportunities to serve? To make a referral for a Senior Companion to provide assistance and friendship to an elderly individual or to an adult with special needs, please contact the Senior Companion Program at (509) 545-6145 or (888) 586-7418 for Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla counties or (800) 246-2962 for Yakima county. All clients must be at least 60 years old or disabled and require assistance or companionship.
|
What benefits Do Senior Companions receive? Senior Companions, who qualify by income, receive modest tax-free stipends, reimbursement for transportation, meals during service, annual medical examination and additional insurance while on duty. Volunteers who do not meet income eligibility requirements may still choose to volunteer. They will be eligible to receive mileage reimbursement. In addition to these benefits the Senior Companion Program gives participants the opportunity to share lifetime experiences with other seniors and join more than 10,000 older Americans who are strengthening communities across the United States as part of the National Senior Service Corps.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
How can you volunteer to become a Senior Companion volunteer? If interested in becoming a Senior Companion you must meet income eligibility requirements to receive a stipend and be at least 55 years of age. The stipend received by Senior Companion volunteers is tax free and does not count as income for other Federal programs. The number of Senior Companions in the region is limited by the amount of funding available. Please contact the Senion Companion Program at (509) 545-6145 or (888) 586-7418 for Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla counties or (800) 246-2962 for Yakima county. All applicants must pass a background check.
The Senior Companion Program is primarily funded by a grant through the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Additional funding comes from United Way, the grant sponsor, Catholic Family and Child Service, and other local contributions. Contributions can be made to the Senior Companion Program, Care of Catholic Family and Child Service. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Serving Children and Families in the Tri-Cities |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
