Testimonials From Residents
“My friend celebrated Hanukah with me, for I have not a family member living. This lovely friend has brought such joy back into my life and a real reason for me to wake up in the morning.”
~ Resident, The Cedars
“Carol is so much more to me than a volunteer; she is my best friend. She brings Al her cat to visit me, too. It is because of her that I am knitting again.”
~ Mary, resident
“It brightens my day when she is here. We have so much in common…. Margot is a very bright and sweet person. She has made my life so much more useful and happy. My life is so much better because of her.”
~ Ethel, resident of Mary Ryder Home
"[My volunteer] is a God-send…. She is a true friend. She never forgets holidays or my birthday…[she] plays bingo, trivia, cards, dominoes, or comes to programs at my Home.”
~ Stella, resident
“My volunteer is just the greatest. From the first time we met, we hit it off. We are the same age…our birthdays are the same month, and we went to rival high schools at the same time. [She] brings such joy to my life. I always look forward to seeing her. We have so much to talk and laugh about. She has become very special to me. I want to get up and do more things.
~ Corinne, resident
“I have had the pleasure of having [my relational volunteer, Christine] spend time with me on the weekends for the last several months. She and I play cards, discuss current issues on TV and in the paper…. Christine has a 10 year old son, Ross. He enjoys Lego sets so I got a set for him for his birthday….He amazes me how quickly he puts the sets together. I am going to help Christine make a crocheted purse. She learned how to crochet long ago, but she just needs a ‘refresher’ course.”
~ Patricia, resident of Mary Ryder Home
“I really enjoy having Emma come to visit once a week. I feel so much better and I enjoy life much better…..It makes life more worth living.”
~ Betty, resident of Mary Ryder Home
Testimonials From Volunteers
"My relationship with Grace is important to both of us. I have been moved by how deeply she appreciates my visits. It is a wonderful thing to be told that you've made a difference in someone's life."
~ Patty, Senior Connections Volunteer
"I chose to volunteer with Senior Connections, in order to bring a little sunshine into the life of a lonely nursing home resident. I never dreamed that doing so would enrich my life as much as it did."
~ Jill, Senior Connections volunteer
“With each visit, my resident has become happier and more at ease with her surroundings. She smiles a lot now. I am also rewarded with a friendship I cherish. We chat, we laugh and play games. She has taught me things that I have taught my son and that is priceless. As a single mother who shares custody and has no relatives in town, I truly treasure this mutually beneficial relationship, this friendship, this connection that has brought deeper meaning into my life. I feel blessed to have an opportunity that has made a difference in two people’s lives: her life and mine.”
~ Christine, SC volunteer
“Many volunteers find that, while they reach out to one resident, they end up positively affecting the lives of other residents. For example, [my 14 year old daughter] and I play a half hour of bingo with a roomful of residents and our resident, helping those in need. About once per month, a trio with a guitar comes to visit and we spend the hour with our resident and others…. We have befriended several other residents, especially our resident’s neighbor, who waits for us to come and help her with bingo.”
~ Senior Connections volunteer, Doreen, speaking at Call to Action at the Ethical Society, May 2008
Testimonials From Facility Staff
“I wanted to send you a heartfelt thank you for sending us the most caring volunteers. The five who come here from Senior Connections are truly a gift from heaven. They have really made a big difference in the lives of our residents at Mary Ryder Home. Far too often our seniors are left alone and forgotten, with no one to visit them or even call them; they become depressed and lose their zest for life. Getting some of our residents to come out of their rooms can be difficult, let alone getting them to bathe, eat or put on clean clothes. …[But] now they have someone they feel truly cares about them. The volunteers not only call them, but come to see them on a regular basis. They even came in a snowstorm because they said they would be here. That says something about their character. One affected resident who was always in her room now comes out to socialize with other residents, which is amazing.”
~ Terry A. Jones-Signaigo, Assistant Administrator; Volunteer Coordinator; Mary Ryder Home
Impact on Residents
“I have a resident who demonstrates more emotional and social connections with others since she received weekly visits.”
"I have a resident who now will get out of bed and leave her room due to visits.”
“One very lonely resident cannot wait for Wednesdays and is waiting at the elevator for his friend to arrive.”
“This program is a great opportunity for seniors that don't have family near by. The seniors are looking for love and support and this program provides that. Great!”
Impact on Staff
“It provides time for my staff to do their required 1:1 visits.”
“We utilize Senior Connection volunteers for our more difficult cases. The training that is given to them allows for enhanced abilities to connect and bring enrichment to residents that untrained visitors are not able to do.”
"Senior Connections volunteers are great examples to the staff and other visitors. They are great educators by example in different ways you can enrich a resident's life.”
“The staff and social service feel less burden of the responsibility to enhance our declining residents' day to day social well being when they are aware Senior Connections has been assigned to a failing resident.”
Impact on Non-Program Residents
“If a Senior Connections resident is in a room with another resident, sometimes the non-participants benefit as well.”
“Some of the residents play(s) cards and other games with residents who are in the program and their visitors.”
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Singer Institute In the Media
Articles
Post Dispatch Article: " The Power of Friendship" (February 14, 2011)
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