Our Mission
The Senior Companion Program of Southwest Florida provides meaningful and challenging opportunities and community involvement for more than 100 Senior Companions to serve frail elderly by providing more than 75,000 hours of annual volunteer services.
Our Sponsor
Nationally, the Senior Companion Program started 30 years ago, while the Senior Companion Program of Southwest Florida under the sponsorship of the Dr. Ella Piper Center, Inc. started in 1992. The Dr. Ella Piper Center remained as the sponsor agency of the program when it was reconfigured to Dr. Piper Center for Social Services, Inc. (DPCSS) in 1997. DPCSS is a private, not-for-profit 501 C(3) tax exempt, charitable organization. The Senior Companion Program is administered through the Corporation for National Service.
Friend
s Helping Friends
Senior Companions help ease loneliness and illness. They bolster self-esteem, help clients solve problems and provide personal assistance. They do not serve as home health aids or drivers or social workers. They are companions . . . friends. They help people . . . what friends do for friends.
A Few Facts
Since 1993, the Senior Companion Program has enabled more than 400 senior citizens to volunteer approximately 500,000 hours of providing assistance to frail elderly and developmentally disabled adults who are at risk of premature institutionalization in Hendry, Lee Collier, Desoto, Charlotte and Sarasota Counties. Senior Companion Volunteers also provide respite services to full time family caregivers.
Benefits
Serving 20 hours per week, Senior Companion Volunteers receive modest, tax-free stipends, transportation allowance, hot meals ( where available), accident and liability insurance and an annual physical exam.
Emotional Benefits
The Senior Companions all claim one advantage that cannot be taught: age. Because they are of similar age, companions and their clients share common concerns and memories. For a frail elderly person, a Senior Companion is often the difference between life of independence and dignity or mere survival. For the Senior Companion, serving means activity, accomplishment and purpose. For both clients and companions, Senior Companion Program means enjoying the best life has to offer.
Making a Difference & Changing Lives!
For more information about the Dr. Piper Center programs and services, please call (239) 332-5346.