Senior Companions Program of South Dakota

 

Sponsored by the Good Samaritan Society  
 
 

The Senior Companion Program is part of Senior Corps along with Foster Grandparents and RSVP. Senior Corps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that supports service and volunteering programs to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement. The Senior Companion program is a United Way Member Agency of the Sioux Empire, Brookings, Interlakes, Yankton, Watertown, Black Hills and Northeastern United Ways.

  
         
 


© 2012 Senior Companions of South Dakota

 

  

27th Annual Benefit Concert and Raffle

Sunday, April 21, 2013, at 2 p.m.
Great Room of the Jerstad Center
Good Samaritan Society
4800 W. 57th St., Sioux Falls, SD

The Senior Companion Program is happy to announce that The Singing Boys of Sioux Falls Concert Choir will be performing at this year’s benefit concert and raffle! They are an auditioned choir for boys in grades 4–8. The boys perform a variety of sacred selections as well as folk songs from around the world. Read more
 

Senior Companions of South Dakota is a volunteer program that provides in-home assistance and respite care to the elderly and disabled in more than 50 communities across South Dakota. The program has been called one of South Dakota's most positive senior programs. It allows low income, healthy volunteers an opportunity to provide companionship and in-home assistance to those who need help to live independently.

Senior Companion activities might include companionship through visits, transportation, meal planning and preparation, light housekeeping, playing cards, reminiscing or just enjoying the friendship of a peer. Senior Companion volunteers receive an hourly stipend, mileage reimbursement, meal allowances and other benefits. These benefits do not reduce any governmental assistance and are not taxable.

The Senior Companion is valuable in the care and support of our clients, especially in our rural communities. There is no charge for our services to the client or a client's famiy. Clients report that Senior Companions help prevent or delay long-term care placement, increase the client’s ability to live alone, reduce loneliness and isolation, and reduce stress levels.

Senior Companion Program by the numbers... in 2012: 

125 Senior Companion served clients statewide

541 clients served

70,215 hours of care given to clients

169,363 miles driven by Companions to reach their clients.

82,882 miles driven by Companions providing transportation needs to their clients

71 percent of the clients served stayed in their homes six months or longer—promoting the purpose of the Program to provide services to adults who need some assistance to maintain their highest degree of independent living