Eldercare-Elder Style: Expanding Support for Senior Companions as Caregivers.Project Brief

摘要

The Virginia Department for the Aging was one of eleven State Units on Agingwhich participated in the Joint Initiative for the Vulnerable Elderly undertaken by the Administration on Aging and ACTION. The Eldercare-Elder Style Project improved the ability of the aging network to involve older persons in providing long term care services to at-risk elderly and their families by increasing the opportunities for low-income older persons, particularly older minority persons, to serve as volunteers. Through its public education efforts, the Project made the general public more aware of the need of frail older Virginians for home care to prevent or delay institutionalization. The Project utilized older persons as resources for the provision of needed long-term care services to homebound persons age 80+ at risk of institutionalization. The Project recruited, trained, and placed 29 Senior Companions who provided services to clients during the Project period. The Senior Companions were low-income persons at least 60 years of age. Increased self-esteem and more meaningful use of leisure time were the benefits to the Senior Companions.