Health, Senior, Santa Monica

Giving Back Through Fun Volunteering Opportunities: Wise & Healthy Aging

Posted Oct. 17, 2012, 2:16 am

Mirror Staff

WISE & Healthy Aging has been awarded two federal grants from the Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS).

The first is a renewal of a previous grant called RSVP which provides personalized volunteer placement for volunteers, age 55-plus, with a partner organization on the Westside.

“There’s a wide gamut of exciting opportunities with more than 30 diverse organizations including the Broad Theater, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, WISE & Healthy Aging’s Benefits Enrollment Center and the American Red Cross,” said Rebecca Ruben, Volunteer Services Manager at WISE & Healthy Aging.

Currently, there are more than 280 volunteers serving in RSVP of Greater West Los Angeles.

Working at many different types of assignments in various organizations throughout the Westside, RSVP volunteer with WISE & Healthy Aging are given opportunities to provide valuable service to these organizations and the local community. 

Volunteers receive complimentary insurance coverage, orientation, trainings, recognition events, and RSVP newsletters.

The latest grant awarded to WISE & Healthy Aging is for the Senior Companion Program – another exciting opportunity for volunteers, age 55-plus, to touch the lives of adults who need extra assistance living independently in their own homes or communities.

Volunteers serve frail older adults, adults with disabilities, those with terminal illnesses, and offer respite for caregivers on a weekly basis in the client’s home.

RSVP and the Senior Companion Program are a part of Senior Corps which is administered by CNCS, a division of the federal government that funds Peace Corps, VISTA, AmeriCorps, and Senior Corps.

Senior Corps counts more than 330,000 older adult volunteers who are serving through the three key programs: Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions, and RSVP.

RSVP and Senior Companion are sponsored and partially funded by WISE & Healthy Aging with additional funding is provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

CNCS estimates that 18.7 million older adults – nearly a quarter of those 55 and over – contributed on average more than three billion hours of service in their communities per year between 2008 and 2010. The yearly economic benefit of this service to the nation equals more than $64 billion.

For more information, call WISE & Healthy Aging’s Volunteer Services to find out more: 310.394.9871, ext. 436. Additional information about volunteering at WISE & Healthy Aging and the RSVP and Senior Companion programs can be found at www.wiseandhealthyaging.org.