Volunteering is a great way to keep your skills sharp, continue to grow and be involved in the community. Make a difference in the quality of life of those you serve while enriching your own life through service to others. WISE & Healthy Aging represents more than 40 agencies with a wide variety of opportunities. The following are just some of the volunteer positions available:
Peer Counseling: Trained volunteer peer counselors aged 55 and older provide individual counseling and facilitate weekly support groups. Counselors assist in dealing with emotional issues that often arise as part of the aging process such as loss, ill health, retirement, and other changes. Retired psychotherapists, social workers, teachers, and others in allied health fields interested in contributing their time to volunteer as a peer counselor are especially encouraged to apply.
WISE Connections: A membership program to help older adults remain in their homes. Volunteer opportunities span a wide range, from grocery shopping, pet care, gardening, or handyman to helping in the WISE Connections offices. New and interesting volunteer opportunities arise as WISE Connections aims to meet each member’s unique requests. Opportunities are located within Santa Monica and the Westside. For more information go to: wiseconnections.net.
Benefits Enrollment Center: Help low-income seniors learn what public benefits they are eligible for, and provide assistance in completing applications for public benefit programs. Volunteer benefits enrollment counselors screen seniors for eligibility for assistance with food, prescription drugs, medical care, Medicare payments and premiums and home energy costs. Volunteers will work both over the telephone and in-person at various locations in Santa Monica and the Westside. Computer literacy required.
Information and Referral: Answer general inquiries from the public and direct persons to appropriate community resources.
“America Reads” Intergenerational Reading Program: Share your love of reading and change a child’s life forever by helping a child read.
Friendly Visitors: Volunteers visit with lonely isolated seniors.
However you choose to be involved, your efforts will make a difference to older people and their families. The next Volunteer Orientation is held on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. For more information, please call 310.394.9871 ext. 450 or go to: wiseandhealthyaging.org.
