Senior Companion Program

Stuart H. Tedders, PhD, Executive Director
Margie H. Pevey, Project Director
Arria Lockhart, Clerical Assistant
Senior Companion Program

Mailing address:
PO Box 8098-01
Statesboro, GA 30460

Street address:
Building 803
Fair Road
Statesboro, GA 30458
Phone: (912) 681-0260
Fax: (912) 871-1787

What is the Senior Companion Program? 

The Senior Companion Program is a service initiative through which men and women age 60 or older, who meet certain income guidelines, can become a member.  As a member of this program, they will provide assistance and friendship to individuals who need acute care.  They can help adults who are terminally ill, sit with alzheimersˆ victims and see about the homebound/living alone.  Additionally, they can help those with chronic illnesses as well as the frail elderly.  Senior Companions also provide respite care to relieve the principal caregiver for short periods of time.  They usually serve two to four clients through 20 hours of weekly service.  By taking care of simple chores, providing transportation to medical appointments, and offering contact to the outside world, Senior Companions often provide the services that frail elderly need to live independently.

How do Senior Companions benefit communities?

Senior Companions not only assist clients with chores such as paying bills, grocery shopping and finding transportation to medical appointments, they also help make the lives of the people they serve less lonely.  Many Senior Companions serve clients for several years and often form the most meaningful friendships in their lives.

How does the senior Companion Program operate locally?

The GSU Area Senior Companion Program, locally sponsored by Georgia Southern University, is housed in the Center for Rural Health and Research within the College of Health and Human Sciences.  This program is federally funded by the Corporation for National Service.  The Georgia Southern University Area Senior Companion Program is located in the Heart of Georgia/Altamaha Area, Coastal Area and Savannah River areas/Regional Development Centers of Southeast Georgia.

The GSU Area Senior Companion Program serves Bulloch, Bryan, Candler, Jenkins, Tattnall, Emanuel, Effingham, Evans and Screven counties in the state of Georgia.  A long list of people await training as volunteer companions and a longer list of people seek the services of these volunteers.

During the fiscal year July 2000 - June 2003 the GSU Area Senior Companion Program provided 48,148 hours of service.  These hours of service translated into a savings of $481,148 to the state of Georgia which otherwise would have been expended to provide care for clients in health care facilities.

What Do Senior Companions Do?

  • Visit homebound elderly

  • Assist with meals

  • Offer companionship

  • Encourage social interaction

  • Provide respite care

  • Read, walk with, or write letters for the client

Who Can Become a Senior Companion?

  • Adults age 60 or older who meet income requirements can be stipend volunteers.

  • Adults age 60 and older can be non-stipend volunteers.

  • Volunteers must be able to work 20 hours a week caring for clients.

What Are the Benefits?

  • An hourly stipend

  • Paid training

  • Some mileage reimbursement

  • Paid holidays, sick leave and annual leave

  • Supplemental liability insurance

Volunteer Stations help prepare Senior Companion Program volunteers with 40 hours of pre-service training and match clients with companions.

Volunteers stations include: Care Management Consultants, Inc.; Effingham County CSI, Inc.; Georgia Southern University; Statesboro Summit Apartments; Pineland Mental Health/Mental Retardation/Substance Abuse.

The GSU Area Senior Companion Program Advisory Council meets quarterly to advise and support the Project Director.