Every Monday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. beginning Feb. 5, Nevada Rural Counties Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is hosting an opportunity for seniors and adults with disabilities to meet new friends, learn something new, and provide respite to their caregivers during Friends Day Out (featuring Java Music Club).
Friends Day Out will be held at Humboldt General Hospital in the Sonoma Room and participants can expect to sing songs, get light exercise, and feel connected with peers in a safe and lively atmosphere.
RSVP CEO Molly Walt explained in an email that “Java Circle-Friends Day Out brings people together with an innovative approach that ends loneliness and spreads happiness through peer support, music, photography, and readings.”
RSVP has been helping engage seniors and adults with disabilities in cost-effective and connection-driven ways for over five decades. Their programs are offered free of cost and help participants maintain a sense of self-sufficiency.
“The Nevada Rural Counties RSVP Program, Inc. is dedicated to supporting seniors and adults with disabilities in remaining at home. By enabling our clients to live independently, we help them maintain a sense of community connections and independence, all while being cost-effective. RSVP strives to alleviate loneliness among seniors and adults with disabilities, positively impacting their mental and physical well-being,” said Walt.
RSVP’s other programs help seniors and adults with disabilities get door-to-door transportation, get light cleaning for their homes, receive groceries, have access to resources to help them legally or financially, and just make connections with people, which can be very meaningful if those using the services are homebound.
Feeling alone or isolated can be devastating, and specifically afflict those that may not be able to leave their home on their own. RSVP programs help at-risk people have access to resources to help combat this.
“Loneliness is an epidemic affecting so many of our seniors. The crucial solution lies in strengthening emotional connections. RSVP is actively engaged in recruiting volunteers to ensure that our seniors are not left isolated and can maintain their independence,” explained Walt.
Volunteers help run the majority of RSVP’s programs and according to Walt, RSVP is looking for two to three volunteers to help instruct the Friends Day Out program that “love to engage with others, provide companionship, love music, are outgoing and want to have a great time.”
Being a caregiver can also be a very difficult and isolating job with little downtime. Friends Day Out offers a very important opportunity for those that may be caring for homebound seniors or other adults with disabilities to have a break, run errands, engage with other caregivers, or do something that they most likely are unable to do while regularly caring for someone else.
“Caregivers have the opportunity to receive peer support. They can share their vulnerability and strengths and find value in receiving help from one another,” said Walt.
Coming together as a community of seniors, adults with disabilities, loving caregivers, and volunteers that can help make connections that are able to make a real difference in the lives of those that may often be overlooked by the community. RSVP is asking that those wanting to attend fill out an easy client application and call 775-623-1134 or email Dayzell at dbrown@nvrsvp.com with questions. Potential volunteers can also reach out or visit www.nevadaruralrsvp.com.
“RSVP relies on community support. Kindly consider contributing the gift of your time to foster connections with your senior community,” said Walt.