seniors and volunteering

Recently I requested information about volunteer projects that either
involve 'seniors' as volunteers or serve/address 'seniors' needs? I received
many responses for which I thank you. A number of you also asked me to share
responses. Below is a synopsis of some of the projects that I received
information about.

Thanks again
Amy

Web Sites
http://www.generationsinc.org <http://www.generationsinc.org> .         
www.inform.umd.edu/AHDP <http://www.inform.umd.edu/AHDP> 
www.elderlyfriendly.com <http://www.elderlyfriendly.com> 

Projects - Intergenerational
*       going into local senior centres and asking what they need; if
nothing appeals, then have students propose something - oral histories, or
portraits (for art or photo students), even theatre things that investigate
local history.
*       students do a life span chart and an interviews with a senior (must
be over 65)
*       Dr. Suess night giving books out to kids who attend and also have
readers (seniors and teachers) in each classroom
*       story time/reading time with kids from area shelters or from public
Elementary schools. You can also incorporate art and other fun activities as
well. 
*       stories on tape project with a reading class that serves assisted
living facilities and senior care centres - record songs and traditional
holiday stories and mixed them onto a standard audio cassette for
distribution to the centres for the residents to enjoy. (reading skills,
articulation, fluency, as well as recording technology.)  
*       standard to metric conversion and estimation skills with seniors and
math students - convert cookie recipes and cook
*       For Love of Children's Neighbourhood Tutoring Program, a highly
effective math/reading tutoring program in DC, which utilises Experience
Corps Members
*       University gerontology class is teaching internet and computer
skills to seniors at a residential facility.  
*       seniors as tutors and storytellers for schoolchildren
*       seniors as mentor people engaged in whatever was their own former
occupation-business, teaching, medicine, and farming.  
Projects For/By Seniors
*       Elders in Action staffed almost entirely by senior volunteers, that
provides a number of services for seniors and serves in an advisory capacity
to the Area Agency on Ageing (ageing social services).  These include an
ombudsman or advocacy program for seniors in the area of fraud, housing, and
health care, computer education, and other information and referral
services. The most innovative aspect of their program is the certification
of Elder Friendly Businesses.
*       Experience Corps that places 55+ volunteers in various social
service agencies.  
*       Emmaus Services for the Ageing, an outreach organisation for seniors
in a DC neighbourhood.

Amy Arlow
Project Officer - Community Service and Learning
Educational Development Unit
University of Ulster
Coleraine
BT51 1SA
 
02870 324742
a.arlow@ulst.ac.uk <mailto:a.arlow@ulst.ac.uk>