Seniors seeks volunteers to help look in on elderly

6/11/2014

A program that supports vulnerable housebound seniors is recruiting new volunteers.

The Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol will host volunteer training classes from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 14 to 18. The program, a collaboration between the Toledo Police Department and the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, provides help to older adult residents who are living independently.

Volunteers conduct one-on-one visits with clients, providing companionship and referring them when appropriate to various additional agencies. The program has existed for more than a decade.

Carline Willis, a patrol volunteer, became involved in the program in 2005 when she saw a display at a senior expo. The best part of volunteering is connecting with others, she said.

Some clients have no one to talk to other than their immediate family, she added.

Volunteers must be 55 or older and have a high school diploma or GED, according to information available on the Toledo PD Web site. They must be able to contribute at least 12 hours per week.

Residents interested in joining the patrol should contact Jackie Simpson at the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio at 419-725-7031 by June 20.