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Marie Duncan has been living alone for 45 years and she’d
like to continue to enjoy her “little view of the river” from her Kennewick
home for as long as she can.
The 92-year-old credits the Tender Care Village for enabling
her to remain independent at her own home.
“It’s just wonderful. I just can’t say enough about it. It’s
impossible to imagine when you stop driving how many little things you need
that car for,” she said.
The Kennewick-based nonprofit is part of a national network
to help establish and manage communities wanting to offer aging-in-place
initiatives called “villages” that pair seniors with volunteers.
For an annual fee, village members can tap into a network of
screened volunteers for non-medical assistance, like rides to the grocery store
or doctor’s appointments, light home maintenance, seasonal yard chores or
companionship.
Since launching a year ago, Tender Care has assisted with
450 requests from seniors, with about 90 percent of those requests for
transportation.
The group has 30 members and 30 volunteers.
But it can’t accept any more members until more volunteers
sign on to help.
“I think I’m even more passionate about it now because I see
that it’s working. Some of these people wouldn’t have any social life at all,”
said Traci Wells, director and president of Tender Care Village.
Volunteers can pick and choose which “jobs” to do from an
online list, from taking seniors to appointments, to grocery shopping to light
housekeeping or yard work.
Recruiting more active volunteers is the network’s most
critical need going forward, Wells said, adding that retirees would be great
candidates to help.
“Finding volunteers is the hard thing. That is going to be
the key to keeping this going,” she said.
Wells encourages anyone looking for a place to volunteer to
send her an email at tendercarevillage@gmail.com.
“Our volunteers choose the days and times they volunteer on
a weekly basis. No set schedule,” she said.
Tender Village also seeks donated office space and licensed
providers willing to offer members reduced rates for yard work, window
cleaning, or other referral services.
But Wells emphasized the need for volunteers above all else.
“I hate to bring in too many members if we can’t fulfill
their needs,” she said.
The network’s best niche is seniors who have just begun to
lose their independence, she said.
“Those who just lost their driver’s license or spouse, or
they need that extra little help so they can be out in the community, but they
just need a ride,” Wells said.
The volunteer-member relationships tend to blossom into
friendships. The group also provides opportunities for social interactions,
like socials or exercise sessions like walks along the river.
“I really do want it to be a community mixed with
volunteers,” Wells said.
Duncan heard about the program after reading about it in the Senior Times in April 2018.
She said her membership allows her to maximize her time with
family without her feeling like she’s a burden to them.
“I tell you what. I have my family here, with their
families, and I have really good relationships with them, but I felt like I was
wearing them out and worried I was making them dread coming by,” Duncan said of
her requests for assistance.
She said getting older requires more doctors’ appointments
and errands. “The list goes on,” she said.
“Every time I put in my request, (volunteers) let me know
what time and who will pick me up,” she said. “It’s just wonderful. I have all
kinds of appointments and need things done around the house.”
Duncan said making friends with Tender Village volunteers
has been a bonus.
“They are such nice people. Friendly, accommodating and
cheerful. They’ve become friends, some of them. At my age, most of my older
friends that I have chummed around with are gone. It leaves a big hole in your
life,” she said.
Sharon Inscore of Kennewick signed up to be a Tender Care
volunteer, as well as a member, about a year ago.
“I live by myself and you never know when something is going
to happen,” said the 72-year-old, who hasn’t had to tap into the volunteer
network until recently, as her arthritis has been acting up, she said.
Inscore recently asked for assistance with a 50-pound bag of
salt for her water softener, flipping her mattress and moving her patio table
and chairs.
“It’s a good community,” she said.
Inscore has helped those who need to get to their doctor
appointments or with their shopping. She likes that she can select which jobs
to perform.
“It’s non-pressure, which is really great, as opposed to set
hours and driving every day across town,” she said.
“You also get to make personal connections — that’s good for
me, as well as for them,” she said.
» Tender Care Village: 509-290-0617; tendercarevillage@gmail.com; tendercarevillage.org.