08/21/2025
With a very sad heart, the AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program ceased operations last Friday, August 15th, until further notice, due to a loss of a grant renewal. This is a tremendous blow to the volunteers, the community, and especially to the clients they served. This loss leaves many vulnerable senior and disabled citizens in jeopardy.
What does a Senior Companion Volunteer do? The primary goal of the program is to keep individuals living independently in their own homes for as long as possible. Achieving this goal for so many kept the cost of a nursing home to a minimum for taxpayers. More seniors were able to live out their lives in their own home where they were the happiest and most productive. Volunteers also worked with many individuals dealing with dementia by relieving a caregiver with much-needed respite service. Volunteers gave hope and a brighter future to those who are frail-elderly, disabled, suffering with depression, loneliness, isolation or being home-bound. This was done through a friendly visit once or twice a week from a volunteer. Ask any elderly family member how these things affect them. These wonderful volunteers are seniors helping other seniors. Everyone had a reason to get up, dressed and ready to visit with a friend. It truly was a win-win situation for volunteers and clients. Now, the desire to do anything will probably slip through the cracks and unfortunately, we will begin to see a decline in their health and their loss of feeling they were a vital part of their community. This group of volunteers made a huge difference, and their loss of service will be detrimental to themselves and their clients.
With the loss of this program, clients may have lost their only means of transportation to run errands with someone assisting them, a friendly visit each week, sharing a great part of their own history, the opportunity to live in their homes independently, a way to stay active in their community either by being able to get out of their home or having a volunteer to talk with who could fill them in on what is happening in their community, and most importantly, someone who cares about their wellbeing and making them feel like they were part of their community once again. The smile on the client's face whenever the volunteer showed up was absolutely priceless.
The Senior Companion Program has been a wonderful asset to individuals in Ionia, Mecosta, Montcalm and Osceola counties for 24 years under the direction of EightCAP, Inc. To be eligible to become a Senior Companion, volunteers had to be at 200% below the federal poverty level (many volunteers were around 100% or less), 55 years of age or older and willing to volunteer at least 10 hours a week. Volunteers received appropriate trainings to deal with dementia, diabetes, aging, many different disabilities, and how to keep themselves healthy as well. It gave them pride to learn how to help their clients while staying active and healthy themselves.
Eligible volunteers received a non-taxable stipend, which helped supplement their Social Security or Disability income. For many volunteers, their monthly limited income is not enough to make ends meet, especially with the rising cost of everything. The $4/hour stipend they received helped many of them pay their bills, purchase needed medication not covered by insurance or buy food. Living on a limited income is not an easy life and it was a huge struggle for many of them to stay afloat. Their biggest obstacle now is their health and age. How many employers are going to hire someone in their 70s or 80s? With some of the disabilities the volunteers have, even if they were hired, how long would the position last due to their inability to stand or sit for a certain amount of time. These volunteers were not asking for a handout, but a way to make a little extra cash while giving back to their communities, helping others, improving their own mental or physical health, and making a positive difference along the way.
So many wonderful friendships have blossomed between the clients and volunteers. For many elderly clients, they have lost most, if not all of their family or friends and sadly, their families cannot or do not visit. You would be surprised how many are without family visitors. Volunteers often were the only visitor the client had and soon they became the client's best friend.
Studies on volunteering have shown how much healthier it can make your heart, ease your own loneliness and depression, and give you an overall feeling of pride knowing you are helping someone who desperately needs help. It was a beautiful way for the volunteers to give back and have the feeling of being useful and needed in their senior years. Now, we are worried not only about the clients losing this service, but our volunteers becoming stationary. Staying active and moving is important for all of us.
These volunteers gave with all of their heart, and it is heartbreaking to see this program end. We want each of them to realize how important they were to others, how they made days brighter for many, and how much their clients are going to miss their weekly visits. We know many of them will continue their friendship through phone calls, but it isn't the same as having an in-person visit. The in-person visit allowed the volunteer and client to check on each other by being present and being able to gauge how each were doing. You can't see ailments over the phone and not everyone is honest about how they are actually feeling during a phone conversation. Why? Because they don't want to become a burden to anyone, especially their family. Yes, pride is a huge factor with aging seniors, so if you sense something is wrong with your loved one, please visit them to make sure they are okay.
With this loss, we hope that family members step up and take care of their loved ones. These loved ones were there for you when you first started walking, talking, getting fed and gave you support as you were growing up. They did it through love and now we are hoping you return that love and make sure they are well cared for in the future. They deserve the best in their final years of life. Please make it enjoyable for them and treat them like you would want to be treated when you reach their age.
Our most sincere thank you goes to each and every Senior Companion Volunteer! You have rose to the occasion and given your all. You should be very proud of the difference and impact you have had on so many people. Your love made the darkness they were so used to brighten up and we know how much they will miss you. We will miss you tremendously and hope to see you again soon. You have been our shining stars and the success of the Senior Companion Program, and we couldn't be prouder and extremely thankful of your dedication and accomplishments! Wishing you all the best!
Sincerely,
Stephanie & Tammie đź’–
