ABOUT VOLUNTEERING FOR SENIORS

Volunteering is an incredible way to get involved in your community. It makes you feel good and whoever you are helping feel good. Volunteering is a selfless act, but you will definitely, whether you expect to or not, also receive something from that selfless act: you are helping those less fortunate than you in some way or capacity. Here, at Volunteering for Seniors (VFS), the elderly, those citizens living their golden years on our planet, are who our organization seeks to help. Seniors, in particular, are a vulnerable portion of our population.

For many, the elderly have sons and daughters and grandsons and granddaughters whom they either live close to and who can spend a lot of time with their family during any given time, or perhaps they only see their family on holidays and rare occasions because they live so far away, in another state, or country, but these elderly people at least have a circle of friends they can turn to for companionship, love and support. In this third scenario, where VFS really comes into play, there are those senior citizens living out their golden years alone living in their own home or perhaps a nursing home, or facility where they are around and cared for by medical professionals, day in and day out, but these lovely elderly people do not have relatives or even friends to visit them. 

 At VFS, one of our aims is to promote aging awareness and its related issues and generate community-based solutions. We are happy to announce that we are now fully operational in the state of Massachusetts and making home visits to seniors there. *However, if you are not located in the state of Massachusetts, not to worry because you can still volunteer and help our seniors lead fulfilling lives and get involved with our wonderful organization, VFS, and make a huge difference in the lives of senior citizens-many of whom live in low-income housing-and spend time with people living like their golden years. 

In addition to visiting with the elderly in their homes and providing companionship and friendship, there are a myriad of other ways to get involved via the internet and the good-old fashioned United States post office. Whether young or old, people love to receive hand-written letters. With all this newfound modern technology, the only mail we receive these days tends to be bills. So, letters are an underwritten form of communication that all of us enjoy very much to receive. Seniors, in particular, many of whom live alone or far away from loved ones, would benefit and love to receive a hand-written letter or more. It’s also an activity that you can do from the comfort, safety, and convenience of your very own home. It’s an easy and thoughtful activity that allows you to connect with senior citizens who could use some cheering up, and your letter would certainly make them smile and hearts full because unlike an email or a text message, a letter can be displayed on a mantle for all to see or a bedroom dresser to be enjoyed privately. 

What’s more, a physical letter will surely brighten their day and/or their week. Even for those savvy seniors who have cell phones and text and/or email, writing and emailing a letter shows that you really care about them as an individual. Letter writing is not only a thoughtful gesture for adults, and of course, the elderly who are very isolated and/or live alone will appreciate your letters, but letter writing is also an exciting and easy thing for children to do, as well. For those seniors who have grandchildren who live far away and who they can’t see as often as they would like, receiving a letter from a child who may be close in age, if not the same age, as their very own grandson or granddaughter, would be an absolute thrill for them, and hopefully, it will make them feel fantastic and a good deal less lonely. 

Finally, writing letters to the elderly is not beneficial for those who receive the letters. Writing a letter allows children to strengthen and engage their motor skills as well as enhance and work on their vocabulary. Letter writing also allows children of all ages to express themselves and let their uninhibited creativity run wild. Writing a letter to seniors will make their day. Find out how you can get started!

For those volunteers who do not live in the state of Massachusetts, in addition to writing letters, virtual volunteering (see below for an application) is an excellent way to give back to the senior citizens either living in your community, or in a different state entirely. Like letter writing, virtually spending time with the elderly is a form of volunteering that you can also do from the comfort, safety, and convenience of your home, on your very own couch. Being a virtual volunteer is easy and simple and will make a world of difference in the lives of seniors to whom you donate your time. Anyone, who is willing and able, can be a virtual volunteer for Volunteering for Seniors. All you need to start making a difference is a computer/laptop, reliable and steady internet connection, availability/spare time, and most important of all, the desire to positively influence and affect the life of a senior citizen. 

There are many ways for you, as a volunteer, to spend quality time with the elderly involved in Volunteering For Seniors—please do not think you need to physically be in their home to do so. For instance, you could plan to eat lunch together. You would prepare lunch in your own homes and then have a conversation over lunch as if you are both in the same room. You could read aloud a book or the newspaper to your fellow seniors.  These are only two of multiple creative ways you can ensure that you spend meaningful time with the elderly. Of course, having a face-face conversation via the internet is always a fantastic option, as well. 

For those volunteers living in the state of Massachusetts, (see below for an application) you can physically visit with seniors who are members of Volunteering for Seniors. So many senior citizens who live alone or were forced to isolate due to their extreme vulnerability and the likelihood of their experiencing serious illness and/or death due to COVID-19 now can safely visit with our excited and caring volunteers. These face-face visits will be so appreciated by our seniors. Spending with them gives these elderly people something to look forward to on their calendars. They will be overjoyed that you want to volunteer your time to talk to them. There are so many things you can do and so many ways that the two of you can have a great time together. 

In addition to our core services at Volunteering for Seniors, we also offer free virtual support groups and workshops for caregivers of senior citizens. While extremely rewarding, most caregivers of seniors, of loved ones, face challenges and must complete multiple tasks and make important decisions, as well as have a myriad of feelings caring for the elderly-from the individualized approach that each senior receives to navigating resources and doctors to making sure your own mental and physical health is in tip top shape so that your loved ones receive the best care possible. We offer these support groups and workshops free of charge because at Volunteering for Seniors our adult and youth volunteers work tirelessly and relentlessly to make sure that senior citizens are able to lead fulfilling and happy and social lives. In this vein, our organization is an ever-expanding community of volunteers to provide the elderly with whatever support they may need, and we hope you will join Volunteering for Seniors as a volunteer!

The best way to explore volunteer opportunities at Volunteering for Seniors is by filling out an application. This, in no way, obligates you to volunteer-it just gives us a little more information about you and your interests so that we can start the conversation, and find the right opportunity for you. Once you’ve completed the online application, a member from our Volunteer team or our Community Engagement team will be in touch with you.https://volunteeringforseniors.org/application-form/

We take the safety of our volunteers and our senior citizens very seriously. At Volunteering for Seniors, we screen all our volunteers through virtual interviews. We also conduct background checks on each and every volunteer. We always recommend our members (seniors) to spend some time getting to know the volunteer over the phone before setting up a time to meet either in person (in Massachusetts) or virtually. 

Do you still have questions? We’d love to talk with you! Contact us today at 774-273-5490.

Make a difference in the life of a senior. We will tell you all about virtual, in-person, and community opportunities.

If you are homebound, 60 years of age or older, or are looking to find help for someone either homebound or 60 years of age or older, contact us for one of our many services and to get you in touch with our kind and caring volunteers. Here at Volunteering for Seniors (VSF), we are here to support you in any way that we possibly can. Wondering if this our organization is right for you? Contact us at info@volunteeringforseniors.org

We look forward to hearing from our future volunteers for our organization Volunteering for Seniors (VFS). There is a special type of magic that is projected into the universe when people from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life come together for a shared purpose or a common goal that bonds them together.

 At VFS, we value the elderly and firmly believe that they have so much still to offer the world, themselves, and the younger generations. That is why we want to ensure that senior citizens maintain a sense of purpose and dignity in their respective communities. We want those living out their golden years to know that they matter, that they have something to say, that we hear them, and that we love them. Sign up today to be a volunteer at VFS to make a difference and leave a lasting impact on all the incredible seniors that are members of our organization. They are waiting for you to take the first step.