WESTBROOK, Maine — It's no secret the pandemic created more isolation than our world had seen before. This rings especially true for seniors. COVID-19 left that already-vulnerable population feeling even lonelier, which is why a program that has been around in southern Maine for nearly 20 years has taken on a new sense of meaning.
The Senior Companion Program is sponsored in Cumberland and York Counties by The Opportunity Alliance and started in 2004. The program allows Maine retirees 55 years and older to connect with seniors who have a hard time leaving their homes. The goal is to help them perform daily tasks, such as getting to appointments, shopping and just socializing, so they can maintain a sense of independence.
"If we can provide a little support to [seniors] to help them stay in their homes, that's really the ultimate goal because people thrive when they're in a familiar and comfortable environment," Chloe Gray, the lead volunteer coordinator for TOA, said.
Gray said there have been about 20 senior companion volunteers who have served more than 50 clients in the past year. People must be 55 years and older to volunteer. Qualified applicants who volunteer at least 10 hours per week will receive a small, tax-free stipend, and it doesn't affect things such as social security, subsidized housing food stamps, LIHEAP, etc.
"If I could, I'd have two clients every day, seven days a week," JoAnn Prevost, a 72-year-old senior companion volunteer who works in the Westbrook area, said.
Prevost said she visits three clients once a week for three hours each and is adding a fourth to her roster. The stipend she receives is nice extra cash, she said, but it's not the reason why she does the work.
"I love to know that I am not only helping [my client] be social, but I'm helping myself be social — whereas I might've just stayed in my apartment," Prevost said, talking about how isolating life has been during the pandemic.
Theresa "Terry" Dyer, 88, of Westbrook is one of Prevost's clients. Dyer said this program has "turned [her] life around"
The pair has been meeting for about five months. Despite a 16-year age gap, finds plenty to talk about.
"[Prevost] is such a good person that I would let her drive me anywhere," Dyer said. "I’m very happy about having this program."
Lee Picker, 82, and Dawn Peterson, 87, are a bit closer in age. Picker visits Peterson every week in Falmouth to help with errands and spend time together. Picker first became involved with the program about a decade ago while perusing volunteer opportunities in the newspaper.
"You do different things with different people. You have different personalities to interact with. It brightens your life so much," Picker said.
"I absolutely love it. I'm so fortunate," Peterson said, explaining, "The first thing when we get to the grocery store that [Picker] does — she gets out of the car and goes and gets me a shopping cart because then I can hold onto it, and I'm very mobile."
The Senior Companion Program is a national AmeriCorps program. The University of Maine Center on Aging runs it in a lot of other counties in the state. You can learn more about becoming a senior companion volunteer or client in Cumberland York Counties by calling The Opportunity Alliance at 207-773-0202.