The SAN francisco, california-based senior companion program (SCP) has been serving SAN franciscans since 1984

Sponsored by the felton institute/family service agency of SAN francisco (FSA) since its inception, the program is committed to meeting the critical needs of our community by placing SCP volunteers, age 55 and older, in community-based programs to increase program capacity and offer meaningful volunteer opportunities to active, low-income seniors. Our volunteers develop supportive relationships with other seniors and disabled adults in order to assist them to remain living independently in their community. Our SCP program's goals are focused on reducing the effects of social isolation and loneliness while increasing social connectivity for clients, as well as respite services for unpaid family caregivers of clients. FSA is requesting a grant of $35,264 to fund 7 VSY (volunteer service years) to volunteer at 4 different volunteer stations, with a grantee share of $72,631.00 for a total amount of $107,895.00. Because the need is great, FSA was successful several years ago in obtaining two local funding sources for a current 22 additional vsys per year, with 15 vsys from the SAN francisco department of aging and adult services (DAAS), and 7 vsys from the SAN francisco municipal agency (SFMTA), serving 14 volunteer stations. Our cncs program collaborates with these volunteer stations, with volunteers providing important support to older adults in case management, social, health-related programs and supportive senior housing. Additional information can be provided as requested by cncs. For this application, we will focus on the outcome assignment work plan funded by cncs. Focus area: healthy futures, service activities: companionship: the primary focus area of this project is for our senior companion volunteers provide peer- to- peer support with frail home-bound clients in supportive senior housing and in the community by providing weekly home visits to three to four home-bound clients, providing translation assistance, escorting to medical appointments, light errands such as picking up prescriptions or essential food and mitigate the effects of social isolation and loneliness. At the end of the three-year grant, 7 volunteers will support up to 24 clients at 4 sites encompassing the goal of alleviating the negative effects of social isolation, loneliness among frail, home-bound clients and improve capacity for independent living through peer-to-peer companionship activities.