SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN — Getting a cup of coffee or catching a movie with a friend often has the chance to change someone’s day for the better.

Giving seniors that companionship is one of the missions behind the St. Joseph- based Area Agency on Aging — a nonprofit that serves seniors across Van Buren, Cass and Berrien counties.

A lack of volunteers is making it difficult, though, for the agency to supply companions to seniors across Niles, Buchanan, Dowagiac, Cassopolis and Edwardsburg.

“We have quite a few clients in Niles and Buchanan [and Cass County] area,” said Robin Ross, the agency’s senior companion coordinator. “There are requests that we can’t validate, because we don’t have enough volunteers.”

As companions, volunteers, who must be 55 or older, spend time with seniors who are independent, but who could use a little extra company. Volunteers do not complete any medical or house work, and instead offer a chance for the senior to communicate with someone from their peer group or have a dependable way to get to appointments during a set time of the week. The agency also seeks to match volunteers with a resident who lives in their area.

While it may not seem like much, Pat Arter, senior volunteer program director, said volunteers are a big help to residents and their families.

“We not only provide companionship, but respite for a caregiver that may need to get out,” Arter said. “We have some clients that just want to watch old Westerns together and laugh or read books together.”

The organization has operated the companionship program for more than 20 years, and has seen both the lives of volunteers and seniors alike enriched by the program.

“We do a survey of all our volunteers every year and they report better health, more stamina, more energy. A lot of them report reduced weight,”
Arter said. 

Currently there are about 100 seniors enrolled in the senior companion program. Arter and Ross said they have experienced an ongoing shortage of volunteers in sections of Berrien and Cass counties. They said they believe it is because these are more rural areas, making it harder to find nearby volunteers.

“To have more Senior Companions there would be a huge help,” Arter said. “We could accommodate people with really high needs that we just can’t get to right now. That would be awesome.”

The organization is searching for between eight and 10 volunteers collectively to help fill the volunteer gap. There are only three Niles volunteers and one Dowagiac volunteer serving at this time.

All volunteers undergo a background check and are required to complete a week-long training. They are reimbursed for gas money for travels to classes and volunteer work. They also have the opportunity to enroll in some classes at the agency for free. Those interested in volunteering can call (269) 983-7058. For more information, visit areaagencyonaging.org.