Grant Provides Additional Senior Companions

5/10/2010

Bethel Lutheran Foundation of Williston has awarded a $3,000 grant to the Senior Companion Program of Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota. The funds will be used to recruit additional Senior Companion volunteers to assist 25-30 elderly clients to remain living independently in their homes.

The program enlists healthy seniors 55 years or older who meet income eligibility guidelines to provide free services to older adults at risk for needing skilled nursing care.

“By providing this funding, the Bethel Lutheran Foundation has shown a real commitment to the Williston community and the needs of the senior population,” according to Becky Telin, Senior Companion program director at Lutheran Social Services of ND. The senior volunteers relate well to the problems of elderly people and help make the transitions of aging less frightening for them.“

The Senior Companion services include assisting with dressing and grooming, medication reminders, taking seniors for a walk or exercising with them, preparing a light meal, help with grocery shopping, monitoring diet and eating, providing companionship and conversation, playing mind-stimulating games, reading and writing for visually impaired seniors, doing light housekeeping and providing respite care for primary caregivers. There is no cost to the client for this service.

“The elderly clients benefit from the program by staying longer in their homes and enjoying a better quality of life,” said Telin. “The Senior Companion volunteers also benefit by receiving a small tax-free stipend and transportation expense reimbursement to offset the cost of volunteering.”

Through their assistance and friendship, Senior Companions help others live independently in their homes rather than having to move to more expensive institutional care. Senior Companions offer contact with the outside world and help make the lives of the people they serve less lonely. Volunteering also gives the companions a chance to be active in the community and to make a difference in someone else’s life. For many companions, their visits give them the activity and energy they need to handle their own aging.

The Senior Companion Program of Lutheran Social Services of ND serves about 800 elderly people in their homes through the volunteer services of 115 Senior Companions working out of 35 Volunteer Stations statewide, including the Volunteer Station located at the Community Action Agency in Williston. To learn more about Senior Companions or to volunteer, contact Becky Telin at 800-450-1510.

Bethel Lutheran Foundation is operated by Bethel Lutheran Home of Williston.

Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota is a private, nonprofit social services agency serving communities, families and individual North Dakotans regardless of race, religion, gender or economic status. LSS/ND is owned by the Eastern and Western North Dakota Synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the North Dakota District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. # # # Contact: Becky Telin, Director Senior Companion Program Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota 701-838-7612 (Minot) Email: btelin@lssnd.org