Ursuline Senior Services – Donations & Volunteer Opportunities
Helping Older Adults Age with Dignity
CART TO HEART
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Our volunteer programs, including the AARP Money Management, Senior Companion and Senior Reassurance Programs, are a continued effort to provide outreach and support to those who are in need of services that determine and promote elder independence.
Additionally, this type of outreach provides an opportunity for individuals whose focus is to make a difference in the lives of others. This interactive commitment is a two-fold initiative for those who want to serve and for those in need of service. Our devoted core of volunteers reap the rewards of giving back to their communities by assisting seniors-in-need, while our consumers benefit from support that helps them remain independent. In the process, meaningful friendships are cultivated.
Behind the scenes is a small but dedicated staff of professionals working to assure that the needs of the consumers and volunteers are met. We vigilantly screen and train our volunteers and, then, carefully match each volunteer with the appropriate consumer to ensure that conditions for a successful and productive relationship are at an optimal level.
Money Management Program
Modeled after a national AARP program and co-sponsored by Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging, Ursuline Senior Services assists older persons having difficulty managing their monthly financial obligations. A trained volunteer visits the client on a monthly basis.
The volunteer helps with budgeting and ensuring bills are paid on a timely basis. Other services performed by bill-payer volunteers include: reconciling the bank statement; maintaining and balancing the checkbook register; making telephone calls to creditors, utility companies and the like on behalf of or at the request of the consumer; as well as organizing and sorting mail—especially junk mail—in an effort to eliminate the confusion and “temptation” of unsolicited marketing that so often targets our seniors.
Senior Companion Program
Senior Companions are healthy older adults who wish to help other older adults remain independent. They can provide support and respite to family caregivers by spending up to 20 hours a week with a senior-in-need. They may assist with grocery shopping and other daily tasks that are necessary for the participants to remain on their own or simply spend the assigned time “being” with the homebound senior. Senior Companions receive pre-service and ongoing training, an annual physical, a small stipend for those who qualify, and the joy of helping others live on their own. The individuals helped by the Senior Companions receive encouragement to remain active and a watchful eye to notice when they need extra care.
Senior Reassurance Program
This program provides a volunteer caller to a senior living alone for the purpose of a brief daily check on the senior’s well-being. Calls are made at a pre-arranged, regular time, to share a few minutes of friendly conversation and to assure that the participant is safe and well enough to answer the phone. Volunteers are specially trained to provide emergency follow-up and will send help if the reassurance participant does not answer the phone. Seniors have commented that they feel much safer because of the daily calls. Family caregivers, as well, report a greater sense of calm knowing that the senior in their life is contacted and checked in on daily. In addition, volunteers often find they receive the real benefit, as many precious friendships develop.
Ursuline Senior Services depends on the people of Allegheny County and the surrounding counties for help in providing high quality services to the aging adults in our communities.
We can work with you to make your volunteer experience positive, enjoyable and hopefully, a long one. Please call 412-683-0400 x228 to find out just how far a little of your time will go in helping us! If you are interested in volunteering your time or money to these valuable programs, please contact us today!
All gifts are tax deductible.
United Way Donor Designation Code #281
Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Code #54651
Ursuline Senior Services was awarded this Seal of Excellence by thePennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO), under the Standards for Excellence.
For more information, contact:
Ursuline Senior Services – Donations & Volunteer Opportunities
4749 Baum Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Phone: 412-683-0400 / Toll Free: 888-881-4749 / TDD: 412-683-1023
Fax: 412-621-7212
Email: Ursuline Senior Services – Donations & Volunteer Opportunities
Website: www.ursulineseniorservices.org