Tarrant County United Way’s Area Agency on Aging recently started a Neighbor Helping Neighbor program in the Handley Meadowbrook, Stop 6 and Southside areas to help socially isolated seniors 60 and older. Socially isolated seniors are those who do not have access to resources, who are living alone without assistance from friends or family, or who are experiencing feelings of loneliness as a result of being isolated from their community.

 

Volunteers and professionals are involved in providing a variety of services: transportation, minor home repairs, shopping assistance, wheelchair ramps, safety equipment, yard maintenance, food bank pickup, household chores, visits by phone and in person, information and referral, and meals.

 

Volunteers are needed in order to meet the growing needs of these isolated seniors. If you have a little bit of free time, you can make a difference in the life of one of these seniors. Individual and group opportunities are available. Please call us at 817-995-6948 today to volunteer!

 

You can also help by calling us at 817-413-4949 ext 222 if you know an isolated senior who may be in need of assistance. We welcome referrals from friends, family, neighbors, professionals, churches, etc.

 

 

Volunteer Opportunities

 

Friendly Visitors

 

Do you like visiting with people? Many seniors are in need of a friendly visitor to talk with. Put your people skills to use by becoming a friendly visitor to an isolated senior. Whether in person or on the phone, time spent talking with a senior can make a huge change in their life, as well as your own. Commitments vary from client to client, but usually involve a weekly phone call or in-home visit. Friendly phone callers may make phone calls from their own home, or may choose to come in to the office and use the office phone. Friendly visitors should plan on making a trip to the senior’s home.

 

Minor Home Repair

 

Good at working with your hands? Why not help an isolated senior in need of minor home repairs? Many seniors are in need of home repairs such as side board replacement, light plumbing, minor roof repair, installing of railing, etc.  If you are handy, have your own tools, and are willing to lend your skills to help a senior in need, please contact us. This opportunity is great for individuals as well as groups!

 

Transporters

 

If you’ve got the wheels and the “drive” to help a senior in need, we’ve got a volunteer opportunity for you! Several isolated seniors are in need of someone to transport them to medical appointments, the grocery store, and to run errands. If you would like to spend some time with a senior and help them get to where they need to go, please contact us!

 

Yard Maintenance

 

With sunny days here and lots of time to enjoy time spent outside, why not help an isolated senior by doing light yard work? Many seniors are in need of assistance in keeping their yard up to code. If you have your own mower and are interested in helping a senior, let us know! This volunteer opportunity is great for individuals or groups, and can be done on the weekends!

 

 

The Neighbor Helping Neighbor program seeks to identify and serve isolated seniors in the Handley Meadowbrook, Stop 6 and Southside areas.

 

If you or someone you know are interested in volunteering with Neighbor Helping Neighbor, please contact

817-995-6948, or 817-413-4949 or email to: drhodes@scstc.org.