Area senior citizens who would otherwise be lonely and unable to get themselves to medical appointments or complete everyday tasks have been uplifted and given hope by friendships made through the Senior Companion Program.

“Many of our seniors are living alone and all of their family and friends are gone. We provide companionship, emotional support, transportation and more to them,” said Ann Myer, coordinator for Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla counties.

Myer has been the coordinator for four years and she said it gives her great satisfaction knowing the area’s elderly are being helped through the program.

“I honestly think the most satisfying thing to me is knowing that our volunteers are going out there and making a difference in people’s lives,” she said.

The Senior Companion Program is a free service provided by Catholic Family & Child Services to elderly and adults with special needs who are generally living alone. Companions who are 55 years and older provide assistance and friendship by taking care of simple chores, like providing transportation and offering contact to the outside world.

“I had one client, who, when a Companion went to her house, discovered the only thing she had was a container of oatmeal and cat food for her cat,” Myer said. “Her Companion contacted us and together, we were able to get donations of food and we stocked her freezer and pantry. We also got her a winter coat and blankets.”

The Senior Companion Program reaches far beyond providing a ride now and then, Myer said.

“It’s being able to recognize and provide any help that is needed,” she said.

“Our companions also do respite for caregivers. Recently, there have been a lot of husband-wife couples where one is caregiver to the other,” Myer said. “Our Senior Companions will go in one or two days a week for about four hours to relieve the caregiver. They’re able to go shopping, or see a movie — get their hair done.”

It gives them a much-needed break, Myer said, which, in turn, makes them better caregivers.

Forty Senior Companion volunteers currently serve clients ranging in age from 55 to 86; the oldest was 93 years old, but recently passed away.

The Senior Companion Program is funded through a federal grant, but the local community has helped immensely, Myer said.

“This community has been amazing. The St. Vincent DePaul chapter of Christ the King provided gift cards for our seniors. Others, such as Dutch Bros, donate door prizes and gift cards for our monthly meetings,” Myer said.

Monthly meetings include speakers related to senior wellness and healthcare, such as from the Alzheimer’s Association, doctors, dentists, and medical benefits.

“I try to keep topics that are pertinent to our volunteers or the people they serve,” Myer said.

Linda Dorsey has been a Senior Companion for the last six years and also serves as mentor by helping train volunteers prior to their service. She said helping others is part of who she is and as a retired grocery clerk, she has never met a stranger.

“I’ve basically been doing this all of my life,” Dorsey said. “While I was growing up, my parents had a rest home — a private home with six people who lived there. I used to do errands for the people who lived upstairs. In return, one lady read The Bible to me and I played cards with another,” Dorsey said.

Dorsey said regardless of where she has lived throughout her life there has always been an elderly person without family that she could help. The experiences are an irreplaceable part of her life.

“I actually physically get a warm, heartfelt feeling inside when they tell me how much they appreciate my help,” Dorsey said.

When she gets too busy working seven days a week – in addition to her eight Senior Companion clients, she also helps care for her sister and some personal friends – she reminds herself of that feeling.

Her clients quickly become dear to her, Dorsey said.

“I had one lady who passed away. Her kids didn’t come around, even toward the end. Yes, she was ornery, but she needed someone to care,” Dorsey said. “She told me she was glad I could be the one and that she knew she could always depend on me, which felt good.”

Many clients whose families can help out try to rush through shopping and errands so they aren’t a burden on their busy lives, Dorsey said.

Senior Companions remove the rush and bring calm to the situation.

“They know when a Senior Companion takes them shopping, they can relax and take their time. We’re there for them and have committed a certain amount of time to focus on them that day,” Dorsey said. “They really get excited about what we can do and where we can go together. We go shopping, to the park, museum, play cards and dominoes. You just feel so good when you see how happy it makes them.”

Dorsey feels the program reciprocates and brings volunteers a great amount of companionship, too.

“I’m 72 years old and most Senior Companions are senior citizens. It gets us out of the house, gives us something to do and doesn’t cost a lot of money. We don’t sit at home and get lonely or depressed,” she said.

Senior Companions usually spend 15 to 20 hours a week with six to eight “friends.” Volunteers who qualify receive a modest, tax-free stipend, reimbursement for mileage, meals during service, annual medical exam and additional insurance while on duty. The income doesn’t count against any other benefits. Volunteers undergo triple-level background checks and they complete a 20-hour orientation to ensure safety for seniors.

Connie Sueyras has served the program for more than a year and can’t imagine life without it now.

“I love it! I care for the people and am very friendly with them,” Sueyras said. She has five clients and sees each twice a week. “I forget about everything else when I’m with them. I’m there to spend time with them and to make sure they don’t feel rushed at appointments. I go out of my way for them and they appreciate it. They deserve it.”

Sueyras said her clients become her family so it’s very difficult to lose them, but the benefits far outweigh any drawbacks.

“I had a client who hadn’t seen the doctor in years, but he was experiencing some problems,” Sueyras said. “I told him he needed to go and really encouraged him. He went and is grateful now because the doctor caught some serious medical issues.”

Later, the same client was worried about getting a ride home after a medical appointment that required him to be under anesthesia.

She assured him that she would be there for him.

“I really love being a part of their lives,” Sueyras.

One of her more recent clients, Richard “Joe” Pettitt, can’t walk due to eight knee surgeries after having been kicked by horses during his career as a veterinarian. Sueyras recently pushed him in his wheelchair to the park.

“It’s very easy to become depressed,” Pettitt said. “It was very refreshing.” The two laughed because Sueyras commented how much she hates crows while at the park, only to find out Pettitt had one of the birds as a favorite pet.

“They’re very intelligent birds,” he said. Pettitt has a passion for all things baseball, so he and Sueyras chat about the sport at length. The two also enjoy watching the news together.

“We have a lot in common to talk about,” Pettitt said.

Sueyras said getting to know Pettitt has been a true pleasure for her.

“ He really likes it when I pray with him because he’s very faithful,” Sueyras said. “He loves to visit and having company.”

And spending time with him is fulfilling for her, as well.

“I will be a Senior Companion as long as I’m able to. I live to serve God,” she said.

Despite the endless compliments the Senior Program receives, more volunteers are necessary to serve the elderly population.

“We really need more Senior Companion volunteers,” Dorsey said. “A lot of agencies cost the client money, but ours doesn’t. So many seniors can’t afford it, so they don’t get the care.”

Myer agrees.

“I’d really like to see at least 10 or more additional Companions join the program. Our volunteers are stretched pretty thin right now,” Myer said. “We do surveys with clients and there are always such positive comments. ‘They’re lifesavers,’ say many. And they are, especially those living on their own and not in assisted living arrangements. This program helps them maintain some independence.”

And it’s a “win-win” program.

“Many of our volunteers are low-income so it also improves their quality of life,” Myer said.

For more information visit the Catholic Family & Child Services website or call 509-545-6145.