Livingston County Senior Companions Slated To Be Cut From Federal Budget, Volunteers Speak Out
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- Written by Becky McKeown
GENESEO — A program that helps area seniors stay independent and in their homes free of charge is in danger of being cut from the federal budget.
The goal of the Livingston County Senior Companions program is to keep seniors in Livingston County independent, out of nursing homes, and to improve their quality of living. If the program is eliminated in the upcoming 2013 budget, many seniors in the program will lose that independence.
“If we’re lucky, we all get to grow old,” said Katy Allen, Aging Services Department Director. “One of the things most of us want to do is stay in our homes as long as we can. For many people, they’re not able to live at home just because they’re lacking some really basic things, like getting to their doctor appointments or getting to the grocery store.”
The program, which is part of the Senior Corps and is sponsored by The Community Place of Greater Rochester and funded by The Corporation for National & Community Services, is staffed by volunteers who are over 55 and who live on a limited income. The volunteers earn $212 a month tax free, which helps them pay for medicine, car insurance and gas. They also get reimbursed for mileage spent driving clients to and from doctor appointments, grocery and drug stores.
In addition to providing transportation, the volunteers fix meals, do laundry and stop by for friendly visits. Allen said the volunteers also help alleviate some of the stress caregivers experience by coming in and giving the caregiver a needed break. Since the volunteers are all over 55, they can relate to the clients and provide companionship.
The program also helps Livingston County residents save money.
“On average, the cost of going to a nursing home in the United States is $78,000 a year,” said Allen. “With the Senior Companion program, one senior companion usually helps keep two to three people safely living at home for $4800 a year. That includes everything—running the program, transportation, the small stipend they receive, the administration of the program. It’s a huge cost savings for tax payers. And the cost to the individual—there is no dollar value you can put on that, to be living at home where you feel comfortable, where you feel familiar with your surroundings, where you have built your life.”
The volunteers also feel strongly about the program’s benefits for the community, and themselves.
“If I weren’t there, they would have to rely on a friend, if they could, or get a taxi,” said volunteer David Spencer, who currently helps two clients. “It’s easier for them to rely on me and know I’ll be there at a certain time every week, and they can make appointments based on that schedule.”
Spencer, who has been a Senior Companion since the program came to Livingston County a year ago, says his clients have also told him how much they appreciate his company.
“I enjoy helping people,” said Spencer, a minister of 24 years to University of Rochester and RIT students. “It’s what I’ve done for decades. I enjoy having the opportunity to help those who need help, and it gives me satisfaction, of course.”
Barb Horgan, another one-year volunteer, said her five clients appreciate her service and company and that the program is greatly needed in the community.
“It shouldn’t be cut,” she said. “No, no, it shouldn’t be cut. They look forward to my coming very much. I have this lady who is 101and when I get to her home, she’s kind of down. By the time I leave, she’s upbeat, cheerful and looking forward to the next time I come.”
Word about the program’s benefits has spread. It has 105 referrals and has currently placed 55 seniors with 27 volunteers across 13 towns. The program has slots for a maximum of 40 volunteers, said Livingston County Senior Companions program coordinator Tina Brooks.
All volunteers are given criminal background checks, are run through the National Sex Offender Registry and go through a reference check. Volunteers also go through a two-day orientation and training period, as well as monthly ongoing training sessions to prepare.
But if the program is eliminated, those volunteers may no longer be able to help local seniors in need.
“We encourage individuals to contact their legislators, federal senators and local congressional representative to encourage all of them to continue to support the Senior Companions program and tell them how important it is,” Allen said.
To find out how you can help save the program, become a Senior Companions volunteer, request service for yourself or a loved one or to sponsor the program or donate, call Tina Brooks at 243-3818.
