Elder Services Aide
Description: Services provided by Perkins School for the Blind extend beyond campus and reach many members of the community who are visually impaired and enjoy independent life but find it difficult to perform certain functions. Senior citizens, in particular, benefit from Perkins' outreach efforts through the School's elder services aides, who are matched up with senior citizens who are visually impaired to assist them with day-to-day activities.
Program: Outreach: Services to Elders
Time Commitment: One or two hours per week.
More Information: There are four categories of Outreach Elder Service Aides:
- Friendly Visitors meet with an elder in his/her home, usually once a week. Visits involve taking walks, participating in hobbies, reading mail, writing letters, and running errands.
- Readers read mail, books, newspaper and magazine articles, and might help take care of correspondence or pay bills.
- Drivers help run errands and take people to appointments and social engagements.
- Shoppers ease the burden of running errands by picking up items for elders or by accompanying them on shopping excursions.