- Seniors
- Volunteers
Loneliness is a major issue for the elderly and has been linked closely with poor health. Debby Katz and John Perkins are volunteers with JFCS’ Senior Companions program. They regularly visit elderly clients and have seen the positive impact of their companionship first hand. They are also getting as much out of the program as the seniors whose lives they touch.
Debby and John have found that volunteering is one of the best ways to give back to your community and get connected with others. Both retired professionals, they are among the hundreds of volunteers who have helped our elderly clients through regular visits and good conversation. Here are their stories:
Debby’s Story
“Being with Ruth doesn’t feel like volunteering. It’s more of a friendship, and I’m just one of her girlfriends, even though I’m 66 and she’s 91.
“We laugh all of the time. Ruth has a wonderful sense of humor. We also love playing Scrabble. She beats me most of the time.”
“I’ve learned so much from Ruth. I wouldn’t call her a ‘positive person,’ but a realist. She doesn’t dwell on things she can no longer do, like drive. She accepts things as they are. The other day she said, ‘Well, my hands just aren’t what they used to be. I’m no longer 85, after all.’
“For me, it’s not about ‘putting in’ my three hours, and then I’m done. Sometimes, lunch turns into dinner, because we’re having such a great time.”
John’s Story
“My first client, Manny, was new to Seniors At Home. He was in his late 80s and very frail. I discovered that Manny was being neglected by his daughter—he was not getting enough to eat—and I told the people at Seniors At Home. We were able to get help for him. Because I’m handy, I also helped him with projects in his house, like installing grab bars in the shower and hand rails.
“I now visit with George, who is 97. It turns out that we knew each other decades ago, when my company did work for George’s. So, we have a lot in common, and we really hit it off.
“We used to go to museums and galleries together, but now George and I usually go out for lunch and a walk. We talk about all sorts of things, including our immigrant experiences. I’m Welsh, from the United Kingdom, and George escaped from Nazi Germany.
“It has been very interesting. I’m 69, and I get a lot of out talking with George. I think that younger people would be fascinated by speaking with George and they would learn a lot from other people his age, too.”
Learn more about Senior Companions.