|
|
|
Senior Corps taps the skills, talents, and experience of more than 500,000
Americans age 55 and older to meet a wide range of community needs through
three programs: RSVP, Foster Grandparents, and
Senior Companions. RSVP
volunteers conduct safety patrols for local police departments, participate
in environmental projects, provide intensive educational services to
children and adults, and respond to natural disasters, among other
activities. Foster Grandparents serve one-on-one as tutors and mentors to
young people with special needs. Senior Companions help homebound seniors
and other adults maintain independence in their own homes. |
RSVP
RSVP, one of the largest volunteer efforts in the nation, engages people age
55 and older in a diverse range of volunteer activities. Volunteers organize
neighborhood watch programs, tutor children, renovate homes, teach English
to immigrants, assist victims of natural disasters, and serve their
communities in a myriad of other ways. Through RSVP, more than 480,000
volunteers serve a few hours a week to nearly full time at an estimated
65,000 local and national nonprofit groups, places of worship, and
government agencies. Volunteers are not paid, but sponsoring organizations
may reimburse them for some costs incurred during service, including meals
and transportation.
Foster Grandparents
The Foster Grandparent Program provides a way for limited-income people age
60 and older to serve as extended family members to children and youth with
exceptional needs. Foster Grandparents serve from 15 to 40 hours a week in
schools, hospitals, correctional institutions, day-care facilities, and Head
Start centers. They help children who have been abused or neglected, mentor
troubled teenagers and young mothers, and care for premature infants and
children with physical disabilities. In return for their service, Foster
Grandparents receive a stipend of $2.65 an hour, accident and liability
insurance and meals while on duty, reimbursement for transportation, and
monthly training. More than 30,000 Foster Grandparents tend to the needs of
275,000 young children and teenagers each year.
Senior Companions
The Senior Companion Program provides a way for limited-income people age 60
and older to provide assistance and friendship to adults who have difficulty
with daily living tasks, such as grocery shopping and bill paying. Senior
Companions spend from 15 to 40 hours a week helping two to four adult
clients live independently in their own homes. Senior Companions provide
relief to caregivers and alert doctors and family members to potential
problems. In return for their service, Senior Companions receive a stipend
of $2.65 an hour, accident and liability insurance and meals while on duty,
reimbursement for transportation, and monthly training. Approximately 15,000
Senior Companions tend to the needs of more than 60,000 adults each year.
For additional information about Senior Corps, visit
www.seniorcorps.org.
|