SENIOR COMPANION
The OCAB Senior Companion Program (SCP) is a volunteer program that taps into the life experiences of adults ages 55 years and older. Senior Companion volunteers help primarily older adults who may be at risk of losing their independence find comfort, friendship, and much needed assistance in their home environments.
SCP helps older adults who have difficulty with daily living tasks, such as grocery shopping, meal preparation, transportation to doctors’ appointments, and light housekeeping. Senior Companions spend 20 to 40 hours a week helping one or more adult clients live independently in their own homes.
Senior Companions also provide relief, known as respite to family members who are caring for loved ones, and need time off from caregiving duties to rest, run errands, relieve stress, and maintain their own wellbeing. The respite services provided by Companions to family caregivers are often critical to avoiding the alternative of institutionalizing clients.
72 Senior Companion volunteers provide services to seniors in Orangeburg, Bamberg, and Calhoun counties. In return for their volunteer service, Companions receive a modest stipend, accident and liability insurance coverage, reimbursement for transportation and meals, and training while in service. Volunteers must be ages 55 or older, meet income guidelines, and pass physical examinations and state and federal background checks. The stipends earned are nontaxable, and do not affect other benefits received.
Volunteers have opportunities to create friendships, show compassion for others, and stay active in the community. Senior Companions report that they value the relationships developed, and find the opportunity to serve to be most rewarding. For more information on services, or to learn how to volunteer with the Senior Companion Program, call us at 803.536.1027 ext. 115 or 116.
During COVID-19 Senior Companions are conducting wellness calls to help decrease isolation and provide information and assistance with accessing essential services and resources.