Project Grant 21SCGTX003

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CURRENTLY, THE SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM FUNCTIONS UNDER THE GRANTEE SENIOR LIFE MIDLAND (SLM); WHICH PROFOUNDLY RESONATES WITH THE FOCUS OF SLMS MISSION STATEMENT THAT READS "IS TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES RELATED TO AGING AND DEVELOP EFFICIENT, FLEXIBLE, AND COMPASSIONATE WAYS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY." IN DOING SO THE SENIOR COMPANION PROGRAM HAS A VERY SIGNIFICANT PLACE AND ROLE IN OUR SENIOR COMMUNITY IN PROVIDING QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH OUR VOLUNTEER SERVICES. AN ESTIMATED THIRTY-ONE (31) AMERICORPS SENIORS VOLUNTEERS WILL BE PLACED IN OUTCOME ASSIGNMENTS. SOME OF THEIR SERVICE ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE COMPANIONSHIP AND TRANSPORTATION TO DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS, PRESCRIPTION PICK-UPS, CLEARING HOME PATHWAYS FOR CLIENT ACCESSIBILITY, AND ACCOMPANYING CLIENTS TO SENIOR CENTER MEALS AND ACTIVITIES. THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREA IS HEALTHY FUTURES-AGING IN PLACE. AT THE END OF THE THREE-YEAR GRANT THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES IS THIRTY-ONE (31) UNDUPLICATED VOLUNTEERS. THE AMERICORPS FEDERAL INVESTMENT OF $197,101.00 IS THE REQUESTED ANNUAL FEDERAL GRANT AMOUNT, BASED ON $6500.00 COST PER VOLUNTEER, WHICH WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY $71,453.00 THE ANTICIPATED LEVEL OF NON-FEDERAL RESOURCES. SENIOR COMPANIONS WHO PROVIDE THESE VOLUNTEER SERVICES EMPOWERS THEM TO CONTRIBUTE TO A COMMUNITY THAT IS ISOLATED, FRAIL AND NEED OF ASSISTANCE IN DAILY CHORES, AND DESIRE TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT IN THEIR OWN HOMES. THIS VITAL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN VOLUNTEER AND CLIENT IS A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR BOTH GROUPS OF SENIORS. THE VOLUNTEER OFFERS THE MOST ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF COMPANIONSHIP BY FILLING THE GAP OF THE MOST BASIC FACTOR OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS. FOR ALL THE VALUABLE SERVICE SENIOR COMPANIONS PROVIDE IT MAKES THE PROGRAM VIABLE AND CRITICAL NOW MORE THAN EVER AS WE NAVIGATE THROUGH THE IMPACT OF COVID-19.