With inactivity and social isolation ranking among the highest contributors to health issues in disabled and elderly people, staying active and social is absolutely vital to well-being.
Engaging with others and maintaining independence can be a struggle for those that are not able to travel or drive by themselves, but the nonprofit organization, Nevada Rural Counties Retired Seniors and Volunteers Program (RSVP), has been providing cost-free quality programs to those that need them for nearly 50 years.
“The longer you stay active, the longer you live,” said Molly Walt, the CEO of Nevada Rural Counties RSVP.
RSVP operates through AmeriCorps to specifically service elderly folks that are homebound, low-income, or disabled, to get them to and from medical appointments, go grocery shopping, provide companionship, maintain independence, provide breaks for caretakers, and many other things through their diverse programs. These programs help allow many people to continue to live in their own homes, in an environment that is both familiar and comfortable for them.
“A lot of the time and in order to maintain quality of life and independence [seniors] need our help,” said Walt, and “The goal is to keep our seniors and adults with disabilities in their own homes.”
By providing these life-saving services, like necessary transportation, RSVP is helping the community take care of seniors and those with disabilities who are often without family or support systems nearby.
According to Walt, “Drivers can be the only socialization [seniors or those that are homebound] have all week….Most of the seniors we provide services to don’t have any family that live near them that can take care of them.”
RSVP has a range of different programs, some of which pay volunteers a generous hourly wage, including:
• Transportation Program: Providing door-to-door transportation for a range of activities for seniors and those with disabilities.
• Senior Companion Program: Providing emotional support, human contact, and chances for homebound seniors to engage in other enrichment activities.
• Good Neighbor Program: Providing companionship for elders who may be more isolated and partnering with local law enforcement to maintain a healthy environment by recognizing signs of neglect or abuse and facilitating connections to different resources.
• CARE Law Program: Providing free legal services to low-income and homebound seniors that may involve estate planning, wills, guardianship, and many other law -related services.
• NEST Collaborative: Providing camaraderie to help reduce loneliness and isolation among seniors, veterans, and those with disabilities.
• Respite Care Program: Providing resources and support for caretakers that may need breaks.
• Personal Emergency Response Systems: Providing emergency response unit services to improve confidence and security.
• Homemaker Services: Providing light home cleaning services for homebound seniors.
And others as well.
According to Walt, RSVP volunteer-driven vehicles traveled 22,000 miles in Sept., totalling to about 509 hours of driving, none of which could have been done without volunteers.
“We are in desperate need of more drivers and volunteers,” explained Walt.
With multiple counties working together to coordinate transportation that is efficient and provides the best possible service, it is important that RSVP has enough quality volunteers available.
According to Walt, volunteers must pass a background test, have their own insurance (RSVP provides workers comp), and be able to provide a level of companionship in order to qualify.
Those that are retired or looking for both something to do and to make some extra money can really make a difference by volunteering with RSVP.
RSVP insists that volunteers provide a level of companionship in all positions because of the significance it can have for those that are more isolated and greatly benefit from the social interaction.
RSVP is able to provide services at no cost to those who utilize them, but donations are encouraged.
To learn more about programs or to volunteer, visit: https://www.nevadaruralrsvp.org/ or call 775-687-4494.