The Fulton County Department of Senior Services in collaboration with AmeriCorps Funding is seeking volunteers age 55 and older who may be eligible for its AmeriCorps Senior Companion Program, which provides eligible seniors age 55-years-old and above with high-quality volunteer support.

Through the AmeriCorps Senior Companion Program, AmeriCorps Volunteers will serve as a friend or companion to Fulton County senior residents to ensure they can live in their own homes for as long as possible. The Senior Companion program focuses on aiding older adults who have difficulty completing daily living tasks such as cleaning, shopping, or paying bills. In addition, AmeriCorps Volunteers keep seniors independent longer by improving social connection, reducing isolation, and providing respite to family caregivers.

AmeriCorps Volunteers can enjoy the following benefits by participating in the AmeriCorps Senior Companion Program:

Health and wellness: AmeriCorps Volunteers experience decreased anxiety, depression, and loneliness. 84% of volunteers also report stable or improving health after one year of service.

Self-improvement: Through the daily impact of their service, volunteers can enhance old skills and build upon new ones.

Stipend: AmeriCorps Volunteers will receive a $4 per hour stipend, based on income eligibility. Income eligibility is 200% income poverty level.

Community: Connect with others and be part of something bigger. 88% of volunteers who felt a lack of companionship reported fewer feelings of isolation after becoming an AmeriCorps Volunteer.

New skills: AmeriCorps Volunteers often tap their wealth of experience and wisdom and channel it in new directions. All eligible volunteers will complete a mandatory one-to-two-day orientation training and any other training that is a requirement of the program.

Insurance: Most programs offer accident, personal liability, and excess automobile liability insurance.

AmeriCorps Volunteers are eligible to receive the abovementioned benefits if they meet all requirements of the AmeriCorps Senior Companion Program. Anyone interested in applying to become a trained AmeriCorps Volunteer should contact the Fulton County Senior Services STARline at 404-613-6000 or email seniorservices@fultoncountyga.gov.

Program funding is made possible by AmeriCorps. The mission of AmeriCorps is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for volunteerism and national service, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency invests more than $800 million in grants for local nonprofit, community, tribal, and state organizations; places more than 250,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers.

For more information about the AmeriCorps Senior Companion Program, please contact the Fulton County Senior Services STARline at 404-613-6000