Elderly populace of approximately 25% in the Philadelphia region comprises individuals aged 60 and above. Learn about becoming a volunteer for 'aged care services' in this area.

In the Philadelphia region, a significant portion of the population is made up of older adults. According to the U.S. Census data, adults aged 60 and above account for 25% of the region's population, with approximately 1 million residents falling into this age bracket. This demographic is well-catered to by various organisations that offer a range of services designed to help older adults live independently and with dignity.

Volunteering Opportunities Across the Philadelphia Region

Centre for Advocacy for the Rights and Interest of the Elderly (CARIE)

CARIE, based in Philadelphia, provides direct assistance to older adults and their caregivers. Volunteers can assist with a variety of tasks such as accompanying crime victims to court, assessing long-term care resident complaints, educating older adults about Medicare, offering administrative assistance, assisting with special event planning, and providing professional support.

Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) in Pennsylvania

Volunteers for Area Agencies on Aging in Pennsylvania can help with a wide variety of services. These include offering counseling related to Medicare, fielding and researching long-term care complaints, and becoming a senior companion and preparing or delivering meals. The local AAAs in the Philadelphia area are the Bucks County AAA, Chester County AAA, Delaware County AAA, Montgomery County AAA, and Philadelphia County AAA.

RSVP, Surrey Services for Seniors, and Bucks County Positively Aging

RSVP, based out of King of Prussia in Montgomery County, supports the health and wellness of older adults, among other vulnerable populations. Surrey Services for Seniors welcomes both individual and group volunteers to support older adults in living independently. Bucks County Positively Aging volunteers offer help in areas including insurance counseling, health and wellness programs, and nutrition services.

Penn's Village and Senior Community Services

Penn's Village is a "neighbor-to-neighbor organization" that helps older adults age in place in Philadelphia by providing rides, companionship, minor home repairs, tech assistance, pet care, running errands, and more. Senior Community Services, based in Folsom, is the largest provider of senior services in Delaware County and operates four senior centers in the region.

Volunteer Opportunities in Specific Areas

Meals on Wheels of Chester County

Meals on Wheels of Chester County provides hot lunches five days a week to residents unable to leave their homes, covering about 85% of the county's population. Volunteers for Meals on Wheels of Chester County generally deliver meals on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and can sign up online.

Bucks County Opportunity Council

Bucks County Opportunity Council's volunteers sort, pack, and deliver food to seniors unable to leave their homes.

Lutheran Settlement House

Lutheran Settlement House's Center for Older Adults offers fitness and dance classes, health coaching, creative arts, and other programming for those 55 and older.

ElderNet

ElderNet helps support older adults with low or moderate income and adults with disabilities in Lower Merion Township and Narbeth, Montgomery County.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities

The Ronald McDonald House Charities, which started in Philadelphia, supports families including older adults and often needs volunteers.

The Importance of Volunteering

Jamee Nowell Smith, community services director of Senior Community Services, stated that most organizations that cater to older adults thrive on volunteers. Senior Community Services has a high need for home-delivery meal drivers, particularly in Chester, Darby, and Sharon Hill.

Interested individuals can fill out an application online to volunteer through Penn's Village. For those interested in volunteering at Lutheran Settlement House, an interest form can be filled out online. Interested individuals can also reach out to their local AAA directly to become an aging services volunteer in Pennsylvania.

In addition to the organisations mentioned above, local senior and care homes affiliated with churches, such as Altenheim Blumenau, in the region also support older people and welcome volunteer helpers. By volunteering, individuals can make a significant difference in the lives of older adults in their community.