Senior Connections volunteers perform invaluable service

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Lesley Bissett gave Jessie Pauls a good-bye peck on the cheek after their visit at the St. Peters Manor Care Center in St. Peters. Bissett brought her dog, Rosie, to the home. Her visits began after she volunteered with Senior Connections.

Sometimes the need is just for someone who will put in the time to elicit a smile.

Nursing homes are busy places. Each facility has at least 100 residents, and the dedicated staff work long and hard to meet the needs of those who are unable to live on their own.

The residents appreciate the assistance they receive from staff members, but they still experience feelings of isolation and depression. In the St. Louis area, there are 7,000 nursing home residents who have no visitors. The undivided attention of a regular visitor could provide the joy of friendship and the revival of the human spirit for many patients.

Suzsanne Singer recognized the need and founded Senior Connections in 1999 to meet the needs of residents who would benefit from undivided attention. Carefully screened senior volunteers are given two days of training — the Good Neighbor Course developed by the Singer Institute and St. Louis University’s Division of Geriatric Psychiatry. The “relational volunteers,” as they are formally called, are then assigned to a facility where the facility manager matches them with a resident who would benefit from weekly visits.

Mary Ann is one of those residents. Bedridden with a debilitating disease, she told Susan, her Senior Connections relational volunteer, that at one time she loved to read but now can’t even read the print on the daily menu. Susan offered to pick up two pair of readers at the local drug store and also bring a pair of glasses that she no longer needed. Susan’s old glasses worked perfectly, and she takes great delight in finding books that Mary Ann would enjoy. Mary Ann had not told the staff because she felt they were too busy caring for others. She had the undivided attention of her relational volunteer, and her need was fulfilled.

Beatrice told Jim, her Senior Connections volunteer, that she would like to have a compact refrigerator but did not know how much it would cost. She had no outside friends or relatives to help her. She could only afford $50 from her monthly allowance for the purchase. She was disappointed when Jim showed her printouts from his online search that indicated the least expensive model was $79. Then, with a smile, Jim told her that his church had just what she was looking for and would give it to her at no cost. Undivided attention made the difference here.

The Senior Connections relational volunteers play board games and puzzles, share stories, bring pets, give manicures, tell jokes, write notes to families and friends or anything that will bring a smile. They get to know what will surprise and delight those they visit and do their best to make each weekly visit special for the resident.

Senior Connections is expanding the program nationwide. Currently there are 119 relational volunteers visiting 149 residents in 32 facilities. The organization is seeking additional volunteers, financial support and ties to other faith-based communities and organizations serving the elderly. For information contact the Singer Institute, 943 Warder Ave., University City, MO 63130, (314) 727-9202, or see singerinstitute.org.