Golden Years

Program Directors & Office Hours

Danny Birmingham: MTWR 3-4

Volunteer Weekly Meetings

T 6-7pm Upstairs Y.E.S.

Volunteers paint senior's home. [Photo]

Program Mission

Golden Years is a senior companionship volunteer program through Youth Educational Services (Y.E.S.). Golden Years is here to serve the senior citizens in our community. Our priority is to create a fun, loving, and strong relationship between the volunteers and elders. In the United States people tend to neglect and shun senior citizens, leaving them feeling isolated, lonely, and disconnected from society. By providing services such as recreational activities, housekeeping, social interaction, and companionship, elders will once again experience a sense of self-worth. Spending time and sharing stories with senior citizens will end the disconnection between generations. Furthermore, spreading positive knowledge about senior citizens and teaching people about elder isolation will increase awareness of this societal issue.

Community Need Description

Golden Years dedicates time to help end elder isolation. Every community has seniors that need a lending hand, a friend, or just a nice smile. In Fall 2007, Golden Years took a survey of the residents living in Silvercrest, the main Golden Years service site. Feedback showed that most senior citizens would just like some time to talk. Others wanted a pen pal or someone to walk to the store with. Being aware of what is needed is crucial as it prepares us to provide the best services for this community. Through volunteering, Golden Years helps bridge the gap between different generations.

Volunteers paint senior's home. [Photo]

Volunteer Benefits

HSU students will benefit from volunteering with Golden Years in many respects. Having weekly workshops will ensure that they gain skills in working with senior citizens. We also do simulations during the weekly meetings. As an example, during one workshop volunteers placed cotton balls in their ears, wore opaque glasses, and wore splints preventing appendage movement, so they could experience some of the problems faced by elders. This helps in understanding what it feels like to be in “the shoes” of a senior citizen. Providing recreational activities and social interaction will give students an opportunity to give back to their community. Students will also develop strong relationships with grandparent-aged individuals, giving them a feeling of a “home away from home.” After service, students will be able to gain a sense of accomplishment and will see how their efforts really do make a difference. Senior citizens are thankful for all that volunteers do! Overall the volunteers will create bonds with the elders and with the other volunteers. Not only do students make friends, but they get to make differences and build important leadership skills.

Service

Every Saturday afternoon volunteers either go to Silvercrest or a senior citizen’s home. Silvercrest is a subsidized independent living facility and all senior citizens are mobile and in relatively good health. At Silvercrest volunteers usually play games with the seniors, such as: Bingo, Scrabble, Skipbo, etc. Sometimes volunteers also help tidy up or clean apartments.

When volunteers go to a senior citizen’s home they help them with small tasks like yard work or filing papers. Most elders enjoy having cookies and talking with the volunteers during the service.

From time to time someone is in dire need of help. For example, one woman needed her home painted or she would have been evicted. Golden Years painted her home and she was able to stay!

Program director and volunteer visit
a resident of Silvercrest, Tilly Terlacher [Photo]