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Volunteer ServicesVolunteer Caregivers offer companionship, alleviate loneliness, promote aging with dignity and extend a connection to the community. They provide information about community resources and services that help seniors retain their independence. Office assistants make a critical difference to agency efficiency and operations in collating, phoning, filing and managing phones at the front desk.Friendly Visitors are matched with a senior friend for a weekly social visit that alleviates loneliness and isolation. Research tells us that regular social contact is essential for health and wellbeing. Friendly Visitors establish vital connections that keep seniors alert and engaged by sharing life experience, going for a walk or reading the newspaper. Grocery Shoppers provide weekly shopping for or with homebound elders with time for a chat while putting groceries away. Consumers pay in cash, and are given the receipt and change when groceries are delivered. Shoppers also serve as a link to the community for isolated seniors. Healthy Aging coaches and lay leaders are trained and certified to co-lead multiple session healthy aging programs administered by Minuteman staff. These classes and support groups are designed to improve self-care by seniors with chronic disease or to improve balance, diet and exercise. Once trained, lay leaders are expected to coach two classes within one year of certification and attend related team meetings. Medical Transport Drivers use their own cars to take ambulatory seniors to/from medical appointments or treatments with a kind word and shoulder to lean on. They stay with seniors in the waiting room, and reduce the anxiety that often accompanies medical treatment. Rides are scheduled for consumers by Care Managers two weeks in advance to Metro West medical offices and hospitals and into Cambridge and Boston. To learn more about these volunteer opportunities, please submit your contact information and our Volunteer Coordinator Debbie Barr will contact you. Please note that all fields are required in the form below. |