As Coalville resident Lorna Muir has gotten older, she’s realized there isn’t as much for seniors to do.
She moved to Summit County around three years ago after her husband passed away, and had been searching for a reason to keep living when she learned about a new volunteer opportunity through AmeriCorps Seniors. Muir signed up to become a classroom grandparent at North Summit Elementary School; giving her a purpose while she helped make a difference in children’s lives.
“I’m older and I don’t have anything I necessarily have to do every day. I needed a reason to still be alive, and by serving other people, it makes you feel better about your life; it gives you something to do. I would recommend it for anybody,” Muir said. “Sometimes when you have depression, and those kinds of things, you just need something to do. This is a good thing to do because you can help other people.”
The program, which launched last school year, is one of two new opportunities for people 55 and older in Summit and Wasatch counties who are looking for ways to give back to the community. Volunteers work with a school specialist to mentor or tutor students who are struggling in various subjects. The other program provides companionship to seniors who want to remain independent or who may be homebound.
Similar programs have existed across the state for several years, but the expansion into the Wasatch Back comes after UServeUtah, the state’s service commission which manages Utah’s AmeriCorps program, secured a grant to bring classroom grandparents and senior companions to rural counties.
But with only six local volunteers, Wendy Carrigan, the strategic initiatives coordinator with UServeUtah, said more people are needed to keep the programs running. Muir is currently the only classroom grandparent with the other seniors enrolled in the companion program.
“We know there are a lot of significant benefits to people, anyone, volunteering. There are health benefits: it reduces depression, it gives them a purpose and meaning in their life. We know that people who volunteer are healthier and happier,” Carrigan said.
Muir was partnered with the North Summit School District because of its proximity to her home. She started working with five students for a few days a week during the school year to help them improve their reading, writing and language skills.
Although the sessions last just 20 minutes, Muir bonds with the students during that time and shows them there’s someone else who cares. It’s been a rewarding pastime for Muir. She fondly remembers when a young girl she tutored gave her a carton of strawberries on the last day of school with a card that said, “I love you berry much.” It served as a reminder of how much the student had grown.
Muir was disappointed when her workload was cut to two days a week during the summer, but she’s looking forward to increasing it to four days once the school year picks back up. She already has 28 grandchildren of her own, but a few more couldn’t hurt.
“It’s so rewarding. When we get older and we really don’t have that much to keep our minds occupied anymore, it’s just good for the soul,” Muir said. “Sometimes, I think we get so wrapped up in our own little corners and our own little problems. This just gives you a whole new window of brightness and joy.”
Other volunteers have been focused on the companion program.
AmeriCorps has names of people in the community who may need a friend or who need assistance with small tasks. Volunteers can help transport seniors to medical appointments, take them on errands or go to events together. Companions might also visit the home and do an activity based on the senior’s hobbies such as knitting or playing cards.
Carrigan said there’s a long list of seniors waiting to be matched with a friend. Additionally, there are no male volunteers in Summit or Wasatch counties despite numerous men requesting companionship.
Muir enjoys the flexibility that comes with being a volunteer as she can choose which days and hours she works. There’s a five-hour minimum commitment for participants, who can dedicate up to 40 hours a week. Seniors who volunteer also receive a small stipend, which is tax-free and doesn’t count against social security or subsidized housing.
The extra income gives Muir a bit of spending cash to go out for a nice lunch or splurge on a fun activity, and all she has to do is give up a few hours each week. Companions are also reimbursed for mileage.
Volunteers participate in various trainings every month in addition to an initial onboarding, which has helped them develop a friendship with each other. Previous sessions have included mindfulness, CPR and first aid, library resources, nutrition and other topics based on requests or interests. Next month, volunteers will learn how to identify depression in older adults and the risks it can have.
“They’ll be surprised that it’s so rewarding and it’s so beneficial. I think often seniors are not discounted, but underrepresented (in volunteering), so it’s nice for them to feel like they’re doing good. We all like to feel that,” Carrigan said. “We all feel better when we’re doing good and helping others — and there’s so much need.”
Contact Carrigan at 801-449-0357 or [email protected] for information about volunteering. Visit userve.utah.gov/seniors to learn more about AmeriCorps Seniors.