Participants sought for new Friendly Visiting Program

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Director JoBeth Lewer is announcing the RSVP senior ?Friendly Visiting Program? in Fairfield.

The program matches a volunteer, age 55 and older, with a homebound/isolated senior, aged 60 and older, based on their mutual interests and location.

The volunteer will spend a minimum of one hour per week in the senior?s place of residence in Fairfield.

A few examples of how a RSVP senior Friendly Visiting volunteer can engage and serve a homebound senior are: participate in a favorite hobby, play games, read the newspapers, write a letter or cards, computer or email assistance, participate in a desired recreational activity, take a walk together, read aloud, play cards or board games, put a puzzle together, listen to favorite music, run a local errand, go out to a favorite place or attend a local event, deliver books from the local library or just spend quality time sitting and visiting and keeping the senior in touch with the community and the world at large.

All RSVP senior Friendly Visiting volunteers will go through a background check and special training before becoming a RSVP senior Friendly Visitor.

The RSVP senior Friendly Visiting Program is open only to Fairfield senior residents who desire to have a RSVP Friendly Visitor volunteer see them weekly. However, those wishing to become a RSVP senior Friendly Visitor volunteer may live in Fairfield or in the surrounding areas as well.

The RSVP staff director will visit the homebound senior to determine his or her needs and interests and then match him or her with an RSVP Friendly Visitor volunteer.

RSVP Friendly visitors do not provide respite care, transportation, medical assistance, housekeeping or meal preparation ? they are there simply to be a kind and caring friend providing companionship and to brighten up and bring sunshine to the life of the homebound senior on a weekly basis.

The senioris not charged for this service as it is a volunteering opportunity in the community.

For more information about receiving a senior Friendly Visitor at home or to apply to become a RSVP senior Friendly Visitor volunteer, contact Lewer at the Fairfield Volunteer Center in the Fairfield Public Library or call 209-9045 or 919-4752.