By Kate Gauigan
Homage Senior Services
“I don’t like seeing people suffering and I like being able to do something for them” said Mary Oyoo, a Senior Companion volunteer with Homage’s Senior Companion Program.
Mary says it seemed like a natural fit to join the Senior Companion Program, a program that matches older adult volunteers (ages 55 and older) with homebound or disabled seniors (ages 60 and older) with the volunteers providing companionship and other assistance with daily tasks.
While living in Kenya, Mary worked as a nurse coordinating some programs through USAID, with the help of The John Hopkins Hospital, focusing on infection prevention and family planning. She was drawn to working with older adults after her own personal experience caring for her mom.
“My own mother was sick, and I brought her into my home and took care of her and she got better. When I came to the United States, I remembered how much I liked my nursing work and working with older people and that was why I wanted to help in the Senior Companion program.” After her mom’s death, Mary immigrated to the United States in 2012 and settled in Alabama. Upon hearing about the Northwest, she made her way to Everett, which she enjoys a great deal. Mary works as a caregiver, which provides herself with an income and the ability to send funds to her family in Kenya, but she says it is important to her to make time for volunteering as well.
The Senior Companion Program is funded by a federal grant through the Corporation for National and Community Service, which describes Senior Companions as volunteers “who make a difference by providing assistance and friendship to adults who have difficulty with daily living tasks, such as shopping or paying bills. Volunteers help these adults remain independent in their homes instead of having to move to more costly institutional care. Senior Companions give families or professional caregivers a much needed time off from their duties, help with transportation, and often provide friendship for their clients.”
The Senior Companion Program provides Senior Companion volunteers for homebound and/or disabled seniors in both King and Snohomish counties. The volunteers, if they meet the income eligibility for the program, receive an hourly stipend of $2.65 per hour for their volunteer work plus mileage reimbursement. The Senior Companions volunteer a minimum of 15 hours a week, participate in orientation training and get regular support and training by the program.
Mary notes that having a Senior Companion can make a big difference in the lives of the clients. She said she sees many benefits for both the client and the volunteer. One of her volunteers enjoys talking about politics and her life. Mary said her client initially had suffered from a motor vehicle accident and had a lot of physical challenges, but that after working with Mary, she’s doing better.
“My client is teaching me how to cook some American dishes, and she enjoys some of the Kenyan dishes I make for her,” Mary says.
Mary’s excitement is clear. “I’m happy because my goal is to make someone happy,” she says. “And I think I have achieved that.”
Homage Senior Services is looking for Senior Companions to join their team. Volunteer orientations are scheduled in May and June. If you know of clients who might benefit from having a Senior Companion or if you’d like to become a Senior Companion volunteer, contact Mary Ann Higgins at mhiggins@homage.org or 425-879-7050.
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