Senior Companion Program (SCP)

Members of the Senior Companion Program (SCP) are low-income people sixty years of age and over. They serve twenty hours per week and receive a non-taxable stipend of $2.45/ hour. Senior Companions provide home visits and personal assistance to elders who are often struggling to maintain themselves in their own residence rather than exist in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Members of SCP are advocates for the elderly who may suffer from chronic health conditions, be physically and/or emotionally disabled, or otherwise require the help of a caring and knowledgeable friend and advocate.

In Washington, there are four SCP projects in which over 170 Senior Companions assist homebound elderly with shopping, paying bills and understanding Medicare policies and procedures; provide respite to care givers who have a family member afflicted with Alzheimer's disease; assist the elderly who are attempting to recover from alcoholism receive appropriate treatment, while providing needed counsel, companionship support; arrange for the required support services and provide advocacy for elderly patients who have recently been discharged from a hospital or other medical facility. This is a limited but representative sample of community service activities whereby Senior Companions improve the quality of life of older persons who benefit when there is a friend/ advocate willing to represent their best interests.

Catholic Family & Child Service

516 W. Margaret, Suite 4
Pasco, Washington 99301
Project Director: Diane Hart
Phone: (509) 545-6145
E-Mail: dhart_cfcs@charterinternet.com
Website: http://www.ccyakima.org/family/richland/
Service Area: Benton | Franklin | Yakima | Walla Walla

Lutheran Community Services NW

223 North Yakima
Tacoma, Washington 98403
Project Director: Heidi Finden
Phone: (253) 272-8433
E-Mail: hfinden@lcsnw.org
Website: http://www.lcsnw.org/index.html
Service Area: Kitsap | Pierce

Volunteers of America

270 South Hanford Street, Suite 100-C
Seattle, Washington 98134
Project Director: Cristina Vasconcelos
Phone: (206) 329-0515
E-Mail: cvasconcelos@voaww.org
Website: http://www.voaww.org
Service Area: King

YMCA of Grays Harbor

P.O. Box 667
Hoquiam, Washington 98550
Project Director: Karen Keogh
Phone: (360) 532-9542
E-Mail: scp@tss.net
Website: http://ghymca.net/html/senior.htm
Service Area: Grays Harbor | Pacific