This is a Citywide program to help visually impaired elderly remain as independent as possible. Trained volunteers provide companionship and supportive services to severely visually impaired, legally blind, and totally blind seniors.
People who are fifty-five (55) years of age and over, who may have little opportunity for social interaction, are eligible to receive services in their homes and in community settings.
Most of the individuals served live alone, many are home-bound, and all clients need companionship, some assistance to perform daily tasks and help getting around their neighborhoods.
Any New Yorker who has at least two hours a week available and wants to motivate and help a visually impaired senior can register to be a volunteer. Prospective volunteers are asked to provide personal and employment or school references. Volunteers may also be asked to provide other information as part of a general background check.
Volunteers work on a one-to-one basis, with one or up to as many as four visually impaired seniors. Visits are in the client’s home and/or by telephone. Volunteers also work with small groups of visually impaired seniors who attend special programs in congregate facilities such as senior centers and nursing homes.
Whenever possible, volunteers and clients are drawn from the same neighborhoods.
Volunteers usually spend between two and five hours a week with each client. Actual tasks to be performed are determined by the needs of each client, and the availability and interests of the volunteer. Tasks and a visit/contact schedule are specified in a Client/Volunteer Agreement, which is developed and signed by each client and volunteer pair before the start of volunteer service.
Examples of tasks:
- In the home – friendly visiting, reading, letter writing
- In the neighborhood/community – escorted trips for shopping, visits to the post office, barber shop or beauty salon, medical appointments and escort to senior centers, libraries, schools and universities so that visually impaired seniors may participate in group activities
- In senior centers and nursing homes – guiding one or more visually impaired seniors and helping them to participate in congregate activities
Each volunteer’s interests, skills and preferences are matched with client needs, characteristics and preferences.
Volunteers receive pre-service and in-service training in such topics as: the aging process, needs of visually impaired older adults, sighted guide techniques, roles of the volunteer, the volunteer/client relationship, community resources and how to obtain them, volunteer safety in other peoples’ homes and in the street, and multi-cultural sensitivity.
Supervision of volunteers is provided on a monthly and as-needed basis. Volunteers experience the intangible but very real benefits that come from reaching out to and helping others to achieve a fuller and more satisfying life.
