Telespond Senior Services Honors Senior Companion Volunteers

On Thursday, May 19, 2022, over 70 volunteers from Telespond’s Senior Companion
program were honored during a celebratory luncheon at the Radisson Lackawanna Station. Scranton mayor Paige Cognetti, Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging director Jason Kavulich, state representative Kyle Mullins and representatives from the offices of Senator Marty Flynn, Rep. Thom Welby, and Rep. Bridget Kosierowski were in attendance to express gratitude for the tireless work of the Senior Companion volunteers to help older adults remain independent in their homes as long as possible.

Each Senior Companion volunteer received a certificate and a $200 Gerrity’s gift card. Two volunteers, Henry Young and Warren Barlow, also received special recognition for their long-term service with the program. Barlow has worked with the Senior Companion program for over 20 years, and Young has volunteered with older adults since 1988 through the Senior Companion program, the Gino Merli Center and his church All in attendance enjoyed a light lunch, basket raffle, and time to catch up with their fellow volunteers.

For over 40 years, the Senior Companion program has paired volunteers ages 55 and older with older adults who benefit from companionship and assistance with daily tasks. Last year, 84 Senior
Companions provided over 350 clients with socialization, recreation, and non-medical daily living
assistance. The program aims to alleviate burdens of isolation that have become especially prevalent for older adults due to COVID-19. An AmeriCorps Senior Corps program, the Telespond Senior Companion program is completely free to the older adults it serves while providing volunteers with a small stipend for their services. To learn more about the program, visit http://www.seniordayservices.org/senior-companions/