The Senior Companion Program (SCP), first funded in August 1974, was
"designed for the purpose of providing opportunities for low-income persons aged 60
or over to serve as ‘senior companions’ to persons with exceptional needs".
The program is part of a network of programs, called National Senior Service Corps (Senior
Corps), which is under the umbrella of the Corporation for National Service. Today, almost
14,000 Senior Companions serve 49,000 frail adults, mostly the elderly whom are homebound
and living alone, through 191 projects all over the United States. The programs are
sponsored by local public and private nonprofit agencies, often providing the supportive
services that the frail need to continue to live independently.
Senior Companions are at least 60 years of age and must meet certain
income-eligibility requirements. They serve 20 hours per week and receive pre-service
orientation, training throughout their service, a modest stipend to offset the cost of
volunteering, as well as reimbursement for transportation, some meals during service,
annual physical, and accident, and liability insurance while on duty. Volunteering does
not effect any income or housing subsidy volunteers may receive.
Clients are assisted with paying bills, reading, writing letters, and
making phone calls. Senior Companions can help plan, prepare, and share a meal; and assist
with limited personal care (i.e., combing hair, zipping and buttoning clothing). They may
share hobbies, recreation and social events. Many Senior Companions serve clients for
several years and form the most meaningful friendships in their lives.
Community organizations that address health needs of the elderly such
as home health care agencies, hospitals, or centers on aging serve as volunteer stations.
In 1997, the 12 million hours of service provided by Senior Companions was estimated to be
worth $156 million, based on an assessment of the value of volunteer service conducted by
the Independent Sector and the Gallup Organization. This represented more than a five-fold
return on the federal dollars invested in SCP projects.
If you have an interest in the Senior Companion Program, please contact
me, Chris Amspacher, Project Director, by calling 843-2677 or 1-800-981-2942. I would like
to sit down with you and tell you about the program. The National Senior Service Corps,
Lutheran Social Services of South Central Pennsylvania, and community support fund the
Senior Companion Program.
Submitted by: Chris Amspacher, Project Director
Phone: 843-2677
Fax: 843-3886
Email: rcamsp@aol,com