Volunteer program to help seniors starting in August

CHELAN - Senior care has certainly been on the minds of Chelan residents this past year with talk of a ‘campus of care’ and the Senior Living Initiative, and it looks like that notion will continue with the Tender Loving Care for Seniors (TLC) starting later next month.

With a mission of improving the care and support of seniors, TLC matches a senior with a volunteer, who will then help out around the house and spend time with the senior.

“Most seniors want to stay in their own home, but some things they may not be able to do themselves without someone helping them,” TLC representative Kathy Miller said. “It is awful lonely if you have lost a spouse, or maybe your family is out of the area and you need help going shopping.”

Miller pointed out that since the seniors are low income, and don’t have a lot of extra money, there is no charge for the service. The one paid employee will serve as a coordinator who, Miller said, will recruit, train and supervise the volunteers on an ongoing basis. The coordinator will also help TLC volunteers connect with seniors and monitor senior satisfaction.

“Anyone who would like to volunteer can volunteer. The requirement is two hours a month, but I’m hoping that people will spend more time, even if they are just visiting with them so they can brag about their grand kids.”

Volunteers will also ask the senior if they have any goals they would like to achieve (walking out to get the mail, lifting something, etc.) and help them work toward their goal.

“Do it because you want to do it and love helping someone, you get so much in return,” Miller said. “A simple hug from someone is worth a million bucks to me.”  

Funding for the program was recently confirmed in a press release on Thursday, July 13, which stated Chelan Valley Hope (the sponsor for the program) and Lake Chelan Lutheran Church (LCLC) will receive $39,000 to help “implement innovative programs that deliver coordinated, whole-person care for seniors in rural Washington communities.”

Chelan Valley Hope is receiving $15,500 to initiate their TLC program while the LCLC is getting $23,500 to fund a home visit program for adults with limited mobility.

Miller said she fashioned TLC on a similar program called Guardian Angels, which has had some success over the past decade and spread to various states around the country. Research has shown that home visits are associated with better health status and decreased use of emergency and hospital services.

People that wish to donate to the program can do so by submitting a check to Chelan Valley Hope with TLC clearly written on the check. The price to support a senior for a year is $700, or about $60 a month.

Although people won’t be able to see who they’re donating to, “we are encouraging that senior that is getting help to write the organization or person a letter describing the goals they have and if they already met some,” Miller said. “It is confidential, but the senior can leave their name if they wish. It will help knowing your donation is going somewhere and not just in a random pot.”

Now that funding is secured, TLC is currently looking for a Coordinator to oversee the volunteers and activities, before kicking off the program sometime late August.

For more information contact Kathy miller at (509) 687-3366 or millerkk@frontier.com.